3I/Atlas tracker: When will the comet be closest to Earth? How big is it? Date and time here

The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1) is hurtling through the solar system and will be at its closest point to Earth soon.

Published on: Oct 30, 2025, 04:40:31 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1) is hurtling through the solar system. This rare visitor, only the third confirmed interstellar object after 'Oumuamua (2017) and Borisov (2019), is captivating astronomers with its hyperbolic trajectory and unusual chemical patterns.

3I/Atlas is set to pass close to the Sun today (Unsplash)

The comet reached its closest point to the Sun on Wednesday. The comet approached about 1.36 astronomical units from the Sun.

When will 3I/ATLAS be closest to Earth?

3I/ATLAS reached perihelion (closest to the Sun) on October 29, 2025, at 11:47. Its closest approach to Earth is December 19, 2025, at 1.8 AU (170 million miles or 270 million km).

The comet is currently outbound, visible in the Northern Hemisphere with a small telescope (magnitude 12-14), and will reappear post-solar conjunction by late November.

How big is it?

Hubble Space Telescope images from July 21 reveal 3I/ATLAS has a coma (glowing envelope) of 2-10 arcseconds, with the nucleus estimated at 440 meters (1,444 feet) to 5.6 km (3.5 miles) in diameter. It's a "dirty snowball" of ice, dust, and rock, emitting cyanide gas and nickel vapor.

Are we safe?

Absolutely. 3I/ATLAS poses no threat. Its closest Earth pass (1.8 AU) is safer than Mars' orbit, far beyond collision risk. NASA and ESA confirmed it's on a hyperbolic path, unbound to our Sun, and will exit the solar system post-perihelion.

Throughout November, ESA's Juice spacecraft, which is headed to Jupiter and its icy moons, will keep an eye on the comet. The comet will make its closest approach to Earth in December, passing within 167 million miles (269 million kilometers). Observations by the Hubble Space Telescope put the comet's nucleus at no more than 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) across. It could be as small as 1,444 feet (440 meters), according to NASA.

(With inputs from the Associated Press)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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