In a development that has captivated astronomers worldwide, 31/ATLAS has once again placed humanity’s search for extraterrestrial intelligence in the spotlight. A team of scientists with Breakthrough Listen trained one of the world’s most powerful radio telescopes on the mysterious interstellar object during its closest approach to Earth.
Wolf Moon and Quadrantid meteor showers Light Up January Skies as 2026 Begins – USA Herald
31/ATLAS: A Rare Interstellar Discovery
The object was first detected in July by researchers using the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey telescope in Chile. Moving at a speed far too great to be gravitationally bound to the Sun, the object was quickly identified as only the third confirmed interstellar object ever observed passing through our solar system, following ‘Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov.
Now officially designated 3I/ATLAS, the visitor has fascinated scientists due to both its rarity and its unusual characteristics. Most observational data suggest it is a natural comet, featuring an icy nucleus and a bright cloud of gas and dust known as a coma. Still, the object has not escaped speculation.
