NASA is preparing to unveil its clearest images yet of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, with a live teleconference scheduled for Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. EST. The images, captured by telescopes and spacecraft over the past several weeks, have not been released earlier due to the U.S. government shutdown, which kept most NASA personnel furloughed from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12.
The delay meant NASA could not communicate publicly during a period when 3I/ATLAS reached several major points in its journey through the solar system. On Oct. 29, the comet made its closest approach to the sun, becoming brighter and more active as its ices began to sublimate. Earlier, on Oct. 3, it passed within 19 million miles (30 million kilometers) of Mars, offering a rare opportunity for observation by spacecraft orbiting the Red Planet.
Although the comet will come no closer than 170 million miles (270 million kilometers) from Earth on Dec. 19, scientists have already gathered valuable data. The European Space Agency released early images showing a bright blur, confirming the presence of a coma. Combined observations from Mars orbiters and Earth-based telescopes have helped refine the comet’s trajectory.
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