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3I/ATLAS path as predicted by NASA. (Image: NASA) A newly discovered interstellar comet named 3I/ATLAS is heading through our solar system, and while it poses no danger to Earth, NASA and its global partners are preparing to learn as much as possible from it. The project aims to strengthen how humanity detects and tracks potentially hazardous objects.ALSO READ: Sean Diddy Combs gets official release date — White House weighs in on rapper’s future What is comet 3I/ATLAS and why does it matter? Comet 3I/ATLAS is only the third known interstellar object to pass through our solar system, making it a rare scientific opportunity. Although it poses no danger to Earth, NASA and the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) have launched an international observation campaign to study its movement and characteristics, as per a report by Space.com. The comet will travel deeper into our solar system before leaving between Nov. 27, 2025, and Jan. 27, 2026. This short window gives astronomers and observatories a unique chance to practice predicting orbits and performing astrometric measurements, tracking the comet’s speed and motion in relation to nearby stars, as per a report by Space.com.ALSO READ: Corporate China in turmoil after Yu Menglong’s sudden death sends shockwaves How will studying 3I/ATLAS help protect Earth? While 3I/ATLAS won’t come close to our planet, the mission serves as a “training ground” for future space monitoring. Comets are notoriously difficult to study due to their bright comas and long tails, which can distort brightness estimates and affect trajectory calculations, as per a report by Space.com.Live Events By learning to predict the orbit of 3I/ATLAS accurately, astronomers can apply the same techniques to detect and track potentially hazardous near-Earth objects (NEOs). The campaign’s findings will strengthen Earth’s defense against space threats, aligning with the United Nations’ recommendations for coordinated global response planning, as per a report by Space.com. How can citizen scientists get involved? The observation campaign welcomes citizen scientists who wish to contribute to real astronomical research. Registration closes Nov. 7, followed by a workshop on Nov. 10 and a series of teleconferences throughout and after the observing period, as per a report by Space.com.A notice of the project Tuesday (Oct. 21) at the Minor Planet Center, which is a branch of the International Astronomical Union that catalogs and tracks small objects in space, confirmed the initiative read, “The campaign will target comet 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1) to exercise the capability of the observing community to extract accurate astrometry.” NASA, despite the ongoing government shutdown, continues its priority asteroid and comet tracking missions, ensuring no potential threat goes unnoticed. So far, no imminent dangers have been detected, but this international effort keeps Earth prepared for the unexpected, as per a report by Space.com.FAQsIs comet 3I/ATLAS dangerous to Earth?No, it poses absolutely no threat and will pass safely at a distance of about 1.8 astronomical units.Why is NASA observing 3I/ATLAS?To train astronomers and improve techniques for tracking and predicting the paths of potentially hazardous space objects.Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) Read More News oninterstellar comet 3i atlas3i/atlas tracking3i/atlas hit earth3i/atlas update today3i/atlas alien3i atlas latest news3i/atlas when will it pass earth3i/atlas trajectory3i/atlas (Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates....moreless (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News oninterstellar comet 3i atlas3i/atlas tracking3i/atlas hit earth3i/atlas update today3i/atlas alien3i atlas latest news3i/atlas when will it pass earth3i/atlas trajectory3i/atlas(Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily International News Updates....moreless Explore More Stories123
