The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is preparing for its permanent exit from our solar system, and you can watch it happen in real-time. The Virtual Telescope Project will host a free livestream today, January 16, offering live views of the comet as it continues its one-way journey into interstellar space.
Livestream Details and Viewing Information
The broadcast begins at 5 p.m. EST (2100 GMT). Viewers will see 3I/ATLAS through a 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain robotic telescope at the Virtual Telescope Project’s facility in Manciano, Italy – weather permitting, of course. As founder Gianluca Masi notes, this is a unique opportunity to observe one of the most significant astronomical discoveries in recent years firsthand.
Why This Comet Matters
3I/ATLAS is only the third interstellar object confirmed to have visited our solar system. Discovered on July 1, 2025, its trajectory immediately revealed it was not bound by the sun’s gravity, marking it as an alien traveler. Unlike asteroids or comets from within our solar system, this visitor originated from elsewhere in the galaxy.
The comet reached its closest point to the sun (perihelion) on October 29, brightening more than expected by astronomers, before disappearing from view as it passed behind the sun from Earth’s perspective. It made its closest pass to Earth on December 19, coming within 168 million miles.
Future Encounters and Significance
Before leaving completely, 3I/ATLAS will have one more notable encounter: a close pass of Jupiter in March. It will come within approximately 33.4 million miles of the gas giant, a relatively close distance in astronomical terms.
The study of interstellar objects like 3I/ATLAS is crucial to understanding the composition and origins of other star systems. These rare visitors provide direct clues about worlds beyond our own, helping scientists piece together the broader galactic picture.
The livestream offers a final chance to observe this unique object before it disappears from our view, returning to the vastness of interstellar space.
