Comet 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar visitor monitored by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is making its closest approach to Earth. This rare event offers insight into celestial objects that originate far beyond our solar system.

NASA has discovered an interstellar comet entering our solar system, marking only the third known occurrence of such an event. Spotted by the Atlas telescope in Chile, the comet is confirmed to originate from another star system and will maintain a safe distance from Earth.