On November 18, astronomy enthusiasts are invited to join a livestream event featuring the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it makes its exit from our solar system. Hosted by the Virtual Telescope Project, the livestream will begin at 11:15 p.m. EST (0415 GMT on Nov. 19), and it promises to offer detailed views of this remarkable cosmic object. The event was initially scheduled for November 16 but was postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions.
Comet 3I/ATLAS, discovered on July 1, 2025, is particularly notable as it is only the third interstellar object recognized to have entered our solar system. The comet recently passed its closest point to the sun, known as perihelion, on October 30, and has since moved away from our parent star, reemerging into sight.
Gianluca Masi, the founder of the Virtual Telescope Project, captured a striking image of the comet on November 11, showcasing its bright central coma and a tail that streams behind it, shaped by the solar wind. As of mid-November, comet 3I/ATLAS can be seen rising in the eastern sky before dawn, traversing the constellation Virgo.
With an estimated brightness of +10.9, the comet is not visible to the naked eye. However, amateur astronomers equipped with small telescopes should be able to observe its glowing coma as a fuzzy spot amidst the sharper stars in the night sky.
This livestream event presents a unique opportunity for both seasoned stargazers and casual observers to witness the beauty of an interstellar visitor. As scientists continue to study such objects, each event like this contributes to our understanding of the universe and its many wonders.
The latest images and updates on comet 3I/ATLAS further underscore the thrill of astronomical discovery, inviting enthusiasts to engage with the cosmos in ways previously unimaginable.