Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2025 November 21
    [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest
                        resolution version available.

                     3I/ATLAS: A View from Planet Earth
              Image Credit & [3]Copyright: [4]Rolando Ligustri

   Explanation: Now outbound after its perihelion or closest approach to
   the Sun on October 29, [5]Comet 3I/ATLAS is only the third known
   interstellar object to pass through our fair Solar System. Its greenish
   coma and faint tails are seen against a background of stars in the
   constellation Virgo in this [6]view from planet Earth, recorded with a
   small telescope on November 14. But this [7]interstellar interloper is
   the subject of an on-going, unprecedented [8]Solar System-wide
   observing campaign involving spacecraft and space telescopes from Earth
   orbit to the surface of [9]Mars and beyond. And while the comet from
   another star-system has recently [10]grown brighter, you'll still need
   a telescope if you want to [11]see 3I/ATLAS from planet Earth. It's now
   above the horizon in [12]November morning skies and will make its
   closest approach to Earth, a comfortable 270 million kilometers
   distant, around December 19.

               Tomorrow's picture: Dione and Rhea Ring Transit
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [24]Robert Nemiroff ([25]MTU) & [26]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([27]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [28]Specific rights apply.
            [29]NASA Web Privacy, [30]Accessibility, [31]Notices;
                A service of: [32]ASD at [33]NASA / [34]GSFC,
                         [35]NASA Science Activation
                           & [36]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2511/3I_251114.jpg
   3. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
   4. https://www.instagram.com/rolandoligustri/
   5. https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/3i-atlas/
   6. https://www.instagram.com/rolandoligustri/p/DRCsqxPDFHM/
   7. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250809.html
   8. https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/3i-atlas/comet-3i-atlas-image-gallery/
   9. https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/view-interstellar-comet-3i-atlas-through-nasas-multiple-lenses/
  10. https://www.arxiv.org/abs/2510.25035
  11. https://earthsky.org/space/new-interstellar-object-candidate-heading-toward-the-sun-a11pl3z/
  12. https://theskylive.com/c2025n1-info
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251120.html
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  17. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  19. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  22. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=251121
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251122.html
  24. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  25. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  26. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  27. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  29. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  30. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  31. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  32. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  33. https://www.nasa.gov/
  34. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  35. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  36. http://www.mtu.edu/