The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS has gathered significant scientific attention, and soon it will reach its closest point to the sun.

Short-period comets get close to the sun much more often than their long-period kin, and every time they do, they deplete more of their gas and dust. Consequently, they don’t typically emit as much reflective material per orbit, so they don’t get as bright.

ESA’s Mars orbiters captured images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it passed close to Mars, revealing its bright, hazy coma. Researchers are studying the data to learn more about this rare visitor from beyond our Solar System.

Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) will pass through the neck of the great celestial serpent represented by the constellation Serpens Caput on the nights of Oct. 26-27.