Tonight, space enthusiasts will have the opportunity to witness the comet 3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar object to visit our solar system, as it moves away from the Sun. The Virtual Telescope Project will host a livestream beginning at 11:15 p.m. ET, offering viewers a detailed telescopic view of the comet as it travels through the stars of the constellation Virgo.
Located in Manciano, Italy, a series of telescopes will be utilized to provide a real-time broadcast of the comet, which cannot be seen with the naked eye due to its dimness, rated at magnitude +10.9. According to Space.com, this event is highly anticipated as experts have been closely monitoring 3I/ATLAS for several months.
Upcoming NASA Image Release
Adding to the excitement, NASA is set to release the highest resolution image of 3I/ATLAS taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s HiRISE camera. An agency source indicated that these images were captured in early October 2023, but their release has been delayed due to a government shutdown that concluded last week. Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb expressed frustration over the delay, stating, “Science should have been prioritized over bureaucracy. The truth about the nature of 3I/ATLAS will be revealed by the sharing of data, not by the storyline of gatekeepers.”
Since its discovery four months ago, there has been considerable speculation regarding the nature of 3I/ATLAS. Some theorists suggest that its trajectory, which brought it suspiciously close to planets like Jupiter, Venus, and Mars, could indicate that it is not merely a comet but potentially an extraterrestrial spacecraft. High-profile figures, including Elon Musk, have weighed in on these possibilities. Musk suggested that a comet of this size could cause catastrophic damage, stating it could “obliterate a continent… maybe worse.”
Viewing Event Details
The livestream event presents an opportunity for viewers worldwide to engage with the cosmos. The Virtual Telescope Project aims to make this sighting accessible, allowing people to share in the wonder of this significant celestial event. As excitement builds, the event is expected to attract a global audience eager to witness the comet’s journey.
As 3I/ATLAS continues its path through our solar system, the interest it has generated highlights humanity’s ongoing fascination with interstellar objects and the mysteries they may hold. With the imminent release of NASA’s high-resolution images, the scientific community and the public alike are poised to gain a deeper understanding of this intriguing visitor from beyond our solar system.
