NASA releases images of comet 3I/ATLAS
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NASA is unveiling close-up pictures of the interstellar comet that's making a quick one-and-done tour of our solar system.
On July 1, 2025, the NASA-funded ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, "first reported observations of a comet that originated from interstellar space," NASA writes.
NASA scientists were baffled after uncovering a rock on Mars that didn’t belong there — with a composition pointing to potentially interstellar origins. “This rock was identified as a target of interest,” the space agency wrote in a recent blog post detailing the potentially intergalactic gravelstone.
NASA reopens completely following a historic shutdown that paused projects and strained schedules, leaving scientists concerned about mission delays.