Astronomer spots interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS returning to the predawn sky: Here's how you can see it too
After a brief escape from Earth's view during a close approach to the sun on October 30th, Comet 3I/ATLAS is now visible again through amateur telescopes. However, it's impossible to predict how long this interstellar visitor will remain detectable.
Discovered on July 1st, 3I/ATLAS is just the third known interstellar object to have visited our solar system. Scientists believe it formed around a distant star, and they've been eager to analyze its light fingerprint and coma and tail using ground and space-based instruments.
Now, you can join the quest to observe 3I/ATLAS as it emerges from the sun's glare.
Qicheng Zhang, a postdoctoral fellow at Arizona's Lowell Observatory, captured the comet with a 6-inch Ritchey–Chrétien reflector through thin clouds on November 1st. He shared, "The comet is now an easy target in the morning for anyone with a camera and a small telescope under clear skies and a low eastern horizon. It appears as a slightly fuzzier blob than the surrounding stars, but its visibility will increase over the next few days/weeks."
Comet 3I/ATLAS can be spotted in the constellation Virgo, near the eastern horizon before dawn in early November, with Venus shining brightly nearby. It's currently moving away from the sun, and its visibility will likely decrease as the sun's heat radiation diminishes. However, the unpredictable nature of comets makes it challenging to predict its disappearance from Earth's skies.
Zhang adds, "If it fades as quickly as it brightened, it will likely reach its peak visibility in the next week or two. Either way, a telescope or camera with long exposures is recommended to spot the comet, unless there's an unexpected outburst."
For those interested in upgrading their astronomy gear, Space.com offers a guide to the best telescopes, cameras, and lenses for astrophotography. The editor also invites readers to share their images of 3I/ATLAS by sending them to spacephotos@space.com.
Anthony Wood, a passionate astronomer and writer, joined Space.com in April 2025 after contributing articles to renowned outlets. He's excited about the future of space exploration and the potential for human missions to the moon.
