Overview
- 3I/ATLAS reaches perihelion around October 29–30 during solar conjunction, creating a temporary gap in Earth-based observations.
- The International Asteroid Warning Network has scheduled an astrometry campaign from November 27 to January 27 to refine tracking of the object, marking the first such effort for an interstellar visitor.
- NASA and ESA state the object will remain far from Earth, with its closest approach near 1.8 astronomical units, and classify it as a scientific target rather than a hazard.
- Modeling by independent researchers indicates NASA’s Europa Clipper could sample ions from the object’s tail between October 30 and November 6, subject to solar-wind conditions and instrument operations.
- Recent images and analyses report a pronounced sunward jet and unusual chemistry consistent with CO2-driven activity, while some speculative claims persist and many astronomers maintain it behaves like a comet.