I/ATLAS has now made its closest approach to the sun and Earth and is now heading back out toward the outer solar system.

Today is one astronomers, stargazers and alien conspiracy theorists have been waiting for: interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is as close to Earth as ever.

In fact, NASA on Thursday revealed its Europa Clipper mission-named for the space probe launched to orbit one of Jupiter's moons-caught a glimpse of 3I/ATLAS back on Nov. 6. At th

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS makes its closest Earth pass early on Dec. 19. Here's what astronomers know about its origin and speed.

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS will fly by our planet at a safe distance of 1.8 astronomical units (roughly 167 million miles or 270 million kilometers) at 1 a.m. ET on Friday, December 19, according to calculations by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

While the comet will keep a safe distance from Earth, the flyby still holds significance for researchers. By observing 3I/ATLAS near its closest approach, astronomers will have an

Discover the secrets of 3I/ATLAS, the 7.6 billion-year-old interstellar comet passing Earth. Learn about its ancient origins and unique chemical makeup.

Scientists atop Mauna Kea on the Island of Hawaiʻi and across the Hawaiian chain are turning their telescopes skyward Friday night as a fast-moving object known as Comet 3I/ATLAS that has come from another solar system is expected to make its closest approach to Earth,