
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
Tune in on Nov. 16 to witness detailed telescopic views of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it races headlong away from the sun on an escape trajectory from our solar system, courtesy of a livestream hosted by the Virtual Telescope Project.
The Virtual Telescope Project's YouTube livestream begins at 11:15 p.m. ET on Nov. 16 (0415 GMT on Nov. 17) and will feature live views of comet 3I/ATLAS captured by the organization's suite of robotic telescopes situated in Manciano, Italy.
Comet 3I/ATLAS was discovered on July 1 earlier this year and was swiftly confirmed to be just the third interstellar object ever to visit our solar system, based on an analysis of its trajectory. The interstellar comet recently made its closest approach to the sun on Oct. 30 during an event known to astronomers as "perihelion" and has only recently emerged out from behind our parent star.
Virtual Telescope Project founder Gianluca Masi captured a stunning image of comet 3I/ATLAS on Nov. 11, which revealed the interstellar invader's glowing central coma and lengthening smoke-like ion tail being carried away by the solar wind.
3I/ATLAS can currently be found rising above the eastern horizon in the hours directly preceding dawn in mid-to-late November, travelling through the stars of the constellation Virgo.
With an estimated magnitude (or brightness) of +10.9, 3I/ATLAS is too dim to be spotted by the naked eye, though a small backyard telescope will be capable of resolving its bright central coma as a fuzzy blob of diffuse light against the sharper points of the stars beyond.
Editor's Note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space.com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to [email protected].
LATEST POSTS
- 1
First Alert: Light snow through this evening - 2
Paraplegic engineer becomes the first wheelchair user to blast into space - 3
6 Modest and Strong Tire Brands - 4
Earth's newfound 'episodic-squishy lid' may guide our search for habitable worlds - 5
Arrow Exploration brings new Colombian oil well on stream ahead of schedule and under budget
Elanco's drug gets emergency nod to treat deadly flesh-eating parasite in cats
Burger King launches 'SpongeBob' menu ahead of film's release. A look at the Bikini Bottom-inspired meal, plus what taste testers are saying.
Collierville residents with no power as temperatures plunge
Here's what can happen if you drive under the influence of pot
Wedding trip Objections in Europe
Germany's first Omani LNG shipments arrive despite Middle East disruptions
Giant ‘toothed’ birds flew over Antarctica 40 million to 50 million years ago
These 2 moon rovers used cameras and lasers to hunt for simulated water ice — and one looks like WALL-E
Consumer outlook on UK economy falls to two-year low












