Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Approaches Earth: Monitored by the UN and NASA.

According to ТСН: The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, which will approach Earth on December 19, has come under the vigilant control of not only space agencies but also the United Nations.

The observation of the comet is coordinated by the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) under the auspices of NASA.

The comet will fly at a distance of approximately 270 million kilometers from our planet. Telescopes around the world are actively monitoring it to outline its trajectory as accurately as possible and improve the methods for predicting similar objects in the future.

Observation Campaign

The lead researcher of IAWN and professor of astronomy at the University of Maryland, James Bauer, noted that the network is in the middle of the observation campaign for 3I/ATLAS. Results are expected to be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal in 2026.

NASA coordinates all actions of IAWN and its observation campaigns. The comet 3I/ATLAS has become the first interstellar object that the network has monitored since the launch of campaigns in 2017. Previously, IAWN tracked the potentially hazardous asteroid Apophis in 2020–2021, and a new campaign is planned for 2027–2029 during its safe but close flyby past Earth.

“The goal of these campaigns is to enhance the technical capabilities of measuring the positions of objects in the sky, that is, astrometry, for asteroids and comets,” explained Bauer.

Bauer also added that during observations of 3I/ATLAS, specialists are testing a new astrometric technique that could help in planning space missions to similar comets.

Classic Characteristics of the Comet

Despite its interstellar origin, comet 3I/ATLAS demonstrates 'classic' behavior of comets. It contains water and carbon dioxide that behave in the same way as those in comets of the Solar System. However, accurately determining its position is complicated by changes in brightness and an unstable coma — a cloud of gas and dust surrounding the nucleus that expands during heating.

Observations of the comet were planned since October 2024, so the appearance of 3I/ATLAS at the end of June was a fortunate coincidence. The comet fit perfectly into the schedule and was visible from network observatories, making it an ideal object for research.

The scientific community has shown great interest: at the beginning of the campaign in October, 171 participants joined, and during the interim teleconference on December 9, 100 scientists and observers were already involved.

According to Bauer, active community engagement helps astronomers improve their skills in accurately determining the coordinates of celestial bodies and enhances preparedness for monitoring potentially hazardous objects that may approach Earth.