A newly discovered interstellar object, 3I/ATLAS, has been spotted in a stunning new image that shows it shining like a rainbow-colored string of cosmic pearls. The comet is believed to be the third object of its kind ever spotted and is most likely a large comet stretching up to 15 miles (24 kilometers) across.
Discovered on July 1, the object was confirmed by NASA within 24 hours as an interstellar visitor – an ejected piece of an alien star system shooting through our cosmic neighborhood. It is traveling at over 130,000 mph (210,000 km/h), with its closest approach to Earth expected in mid-December.
The comet’s unique appearance has been captured in a trippy new timelapse photo taken by the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii. The image shows the comet shifting between blue, red, and green hues as it moves across the sky, despite giving off only white light in its coma. Astronomers hope to study the object further as it warms up on sunlight before continuing its journey.
This discovery is significant, as 3I/ATLAS is significantly larger than previous interstellar objects and originates from a different part of the Milky Way. The James Webb Space Telescope may be able to study the comet’s icy layers in great detail, potentially unleashing a gigantic cometary tail.
The best time to see the comet for yourself will likely be in early 2026, but it is expected to brighten to the point where it can be seen with a decent backyard telescope or stargazing binoculars.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/space/comets/interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-transforms-into-a-giant-cosmic-rainbow-in-trippy-new-telescope-image