Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS (the third confirmed interstellar object after 1I/ʻOumuamua and 2I/Borisov) will reach its closest approach to the Sun—known as perihelion—on October 29, 2025, at approximately 11:47 UT. At that time, it will be about 1.36 AU (203 million km or 126 million miles) from the Sun, which is between Earth's and Mars's orbits.

For context:

• This is just 6 days from now (as of October 23, 2025).

• The comet's closest approach to Earth will be later, around December 19, 2025, at about 1.8 AU (270 million km or 168 million miles)—still far too distant for any threat or naked-eye visibility.

• It passed closest to Mars on October 3, 2025, and will be observed by ESA's Jupiter mission (JUICE) in November while it's at peak activity.

This event is a rare chance to study material from another star system, with observations already revealing high levels of carbon dioxide, water ice, and other gases unlike most solar system comets.

“WE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF AN ALIEN SHIP ON OCTOBER 29TH WHICH WOULD BE EXCITING.”