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NASA has officially released long-awaited close-up images of the interstellar comet 31/ATLAS, ending months of speculation and online rumors that the object was evidence of alien life. The space agency emphasized in its Wednesday briefing that despite intense public buzz, including commentary from celebrities like Joe Rogan, the comet is behaving exactly as expected for a natural interstellar visitor.

NASA Confirms 31/ATLAS Is an Interstellar Comet—Not Alien Technology

“This object is a comet,” said NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya. “It looks and behaves like a comet, and all evidence points to it being a comet, but this one came from outside of the solar system, which makes it fascinating, exciting, and scientifically important.”

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Discovered over the summer by the Chile-based ATLAS telescope, 31/ATLAS is only the third confirmed interstellar object detected in human history. Its images—captured by three NASA spacecraft as the comet passed near Mars in October—were delayed for weeks due to the federal government shutdown.

NASA’s official release notes that the agency will continue monitoring 31/ATLAS as it moves deeper into the solar system, eventually passing the orbit of Jupiter in 2026.
NASA release: https://www.nasa.gov
Associated Press report: Associated Press News: Breaking News, Latest Headlines and Videos | AP News

NASA Opens Window into the Ancient Past

The comet’s size is estimated between 1,444 feet and 3.5 miles, and early findings suggest it originated from a star system much older than our own.

“That means that 3I/ATLAS is not just a window into another solar system, it’s a window into the deep past—and so deep in the past that it predates even the formation of our Earth and our sun,” explained NASA scientist Tom Statler.

Since July 1, twelve NASA instruments—including space telescopes, planetary orbiters, and ground-based observatories—have captured data and imagery. More are expected to contribute as 31/ATLAS continues its high-speed journey.

Anticipation Builds for Photo Release of 31/ATLAS

Interest in 31/ATLAS surged following NASA’s first high-resolution Hubble image released three months ago. Since then, online obsession has skyrocketed.

NASA’s live photo-release event, hosted at the Goddard Space Flight Center, is streaming on NASA+, YouTube, X, and Amazon Prime.

Event link (NASA+): https://plus.nasa.gov/

The comet is currently on a hyperbolic orbit, ensuring it will eventually exit our solar system. By Dec. 19, 31/ATLAS will make its closest approach to Earth at about 170 million miles, roughly twice the distance between Earth and the Sun.

A Rare, High-Speed Visitor from Beyond the Sun

When first discovered, 31/ATLAS was traveling at 137,000 mph, accelerating to 153,000 mph as it neared the Sun. Now slowing as it moves outward, it will eventually return to interstellar space at the same velocity with which it entered.

Ground observations from Chile’s Gemini South telescope and orbital snapshots from two Mars spacecraft provide a multi-angle view of the comet’s structure, tail activity, and mass loss during its perihelion.