Interstellar comet 3I ATLAS studied by Webb Hubble and SPHEREx
by Clarence Oxford
Washington DC (SPX) Aug 26, 2025
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has captured new data on interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS using its Near-Infrared Spectrograph during observations on August 6. Researchers are now analyzing the results, with a preprint already available for review.

The Webb observations add to efforts by other NASA missions. The Hubble Space Telescope and the newly launched SPHEREx mission are also gathering data on the comet's composition, size, and physical features. By combining insights from multiple observatories, scientists aim to build the most complete profile yet of this rare interstellar visitor.

SPHEREx, short for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer, tracked the comet from August 7 through 15. A research note based on those findings is also publicly accessible. Together, Webb, Hubble, and SPHEREx provide complementary perspectives that strengthen NASA's capability to characterize objects that pass through the solar system from beyond.

While comet 3I/ATLAS presents no danger to Earth, NASA emphasizes the importance of coordinated telescope observations in identifying, tracking, and understanding small bodies. This approach supports planetary defense and deepens knowledge of the solar system's evolution.

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