Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS to Make Closest Approach to Earth Today: Timing, Safety and How to Watch
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS makes its closest approach to Earth on December 19, 2025. Scientists confirm no threat; telescope needed to spot it.
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS passes safely near Earth during its closest approach in December 2025.
The weird and the wonderful interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS has grabbed global attention because it will be at the nearest spot to Earth on December 19, 2025. The comet that dazzled us in this year’s sky is already considered the third licensed interstellar object to migrate through the solar system and hence the event would be monumental for astronomers and even for the casual viewers alike.
What Is 3I/ATLAS?
The 3I/ATLAS comet was detected on July 1, 2025, by a telescope network in Chile named ATLAS, which is funded by NASA. Its exceptionally steep and sharp trajectory around the sun substantiates that it is a comet which is not a part of our solar system and will not be stopping here but will rather leave for good. So far, only 1I/‘Oumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019) have been recognized as coming from the outer space to our solar system during its wide opening.
When Will 3I/ATLAS Be Closest to Earth?
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has calculated that the comet will reach its closest point to the Earth at 1 AM EST on December 19, 2025, which will be 11 AM IST on December 20, 2025. At that moment, the comet's distance to Earth will be around 1.8 astronomical units, equivalent to about 270 million kilometers.
Is There Any Threat to Earth?
No, there will be no risk at all. The European Space Agency (ESA) along with other space organizations has stated beforehand that there would be no threat from 3I/ATLAS as it will be a safe distance away. Even when the comet is at its closest, it will be positioned hundreds of times farther than the Moon, thus the possibility of any collision or impact is ruled out completely.
How to Watch 3I/ATLAS
Unfortunately, the comet won’t be visible to the naked eye. But astronomy enthusiasts can still make an effort to see it through a telescope with a 30 cm or larger aperture. The best time for the comet viewing is when the sky is dark and just before dawn by looking towards the east-northeast. The comet has been forecasted to be located just below Regulus, the brightest star in the Leo constellation.
Scientists regard 3I/ATLAS’s short journey through the solar system as a rare opportunity to study material that was born in another star system—a temporary visitor from the blackness of space before it disappears completely.
