NASA Reveals Live Images of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Today
NASA is poised to unveil new imagery of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS on November 19. This event will take place during a press conference scheduled for 3 p.m. EST (2000 GMT). The stunning visuals will be shared live, showcasing images collected from various NASA missions.
Details of the Press Conference
The upcoming briefing will feature several prominent NASA officials:
- Amit Kshatriya, NASA Associate Administrator
- Nicky Fox, Associate Administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate
- Shawn Domagal-Goldman, Acting Director of NASA’s Astrophysics Division
- Tom Statler, Lead Scientist for Solar System Small Bodies
Discovery of Comet 3I/ATLAS
Discovered on July 1, 2023, by the ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) observatory, 3I/ATLAS is remarkable for being the third interstellar comet identified in our solar system. The first two interstellar comets were 1I/’Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov, which were found in October 2017 and August 2019, respectively.
Close Approaches and Imagery
On October 29, 3I/ATLAS reached its perihelion, coming within approximately 130 million miles (210 million kilometers) of the Sun. This solar pass may have triggered heightened cometary activity, which the new imagery may help illuminate. Additionally, the comet made its closest approach to Mars on October 3, coming within 19 million miles (30 million kilometers) of the planet.
The comet is expected to pass Earth on December 19, maintaining a safe distance of about 170 million miles (270 million kilometers).
NASA’s Unique Capabilities
Nasa has stated that the combination of assets within its science missions allows for extensive observations of 3I/ATLAS as it traverses our space neighborhood. This includes spacecraft positioned throughout the solar system and various ground-based observatories. Such diverse equipment enables scientists to study the comet’s behavior effectively from multiple perspectives.
You can watch this significant event live at El-Balad or directly through NASA’s channels, ensuring you do not miss the exciting developments regarding interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS.
