UAE observatory captures interstellar comet
ABU DHABI (WAM)On 1st July, NASA discovered a unique celestial object, which was quickly confirmed to be a comet coming from another solar system. It had been drifting through space for billions of years before entering our solar system and being discovered just a few days ago.Al-Khatim Astronomical Observatory, located in the Abu Dhabi desert, successfully imaged the comet on the evening of Thursday, 3rd July. Observing this object was challenging due to its faint brightness, currently at magnitude 17.5, making it visible only through large telescopes.The observation lasted 45 minutes, during which 45 images were taken. The comet appears as a moving dot, while the stars appear as streaks.The observatory submitted its results to the Minor Planet Centre (MPC) of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), making it the first Arab observatory to conduct scientific observations of this comet.The comet was discovered by the ATLAS survey system using one of its telescopes located in Chile. Initially, it was given the provisional code "A11pl3Z", then named "C/2025 N1 (ATLAS)", and finally designated "3I/ATLAS".The prefix "3I" indicates that it is the third interstellar object ever discovered. The first was the asteroid ʻOumuamua in 2017, followed by the second comet, 2I/Borisov, in 2019.
The comet is currently located about 670 million kilometres from the Sun and is moving at a tremendous speed of 221,000 kilometres per hour. It poses no threat to Earth, as the closest it will come is 240 million kilometres. It will reach its closest point to the Sun on 30th October 2025, at a distance of 210 million kilometres and a predicted brightness of magnitude 11.
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An astronomical breakthrough has taken place in the UAE, as the Al Khatim Astronomical Observatory in Abu Dhabi successfully imaged a newly discovered interstellar comet—only the third ever recorded in human history. The object, named 3I/ATLAS, was discovered by NASA on July 1 using the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile. Classified as an interstellar comet, it originated from another solar system and has been drifting through deep space for billions of years before entering ours just days ago. UAE captures rare interstellar comet The '3I' prefix signifies its status as the third interstellar object ever detected, following ʻOumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019. The comet is currently about 670million kilometres from the Sun, travelling at a staggering 221,000 kilometres per hour. It poses no threat to Earth, with its closest approach expected to be 240 million kilometres away. On July 3, astronomers at Al Khatim Observatory captured the faint comet —currently at magnitude 17.5—over a 45-minute session, producing 45 long-exposure images. While the stars appear as streaks in the photographs, the comet is visible as a moving dot. The UAE observatory's findings have been officially submitted to the Minor Planet Centre (MPC) of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), making Al Khatim the first Arab observatory to document scientific observations of 3I/ATLAS. The comet will reach its closest point to the Sun on October 30, 2025, at a distance of 210 million kilometres and a predicted brightness of magnitude 11, making it faintly visible through amateur telescopes.
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UAE observatory captures interstellar comet
4 July 2025 12:29 ABU DHABI (WAM)On 1st July, NASA discovered a unique celestial object, which was quickly confirmed to be a comet coming from another solar system. It had been drifting through space for billions of years before entering our solar system and being discovered just a few days Astronomical Observatory, located in the Abu Dhabi desert, successfully imaged the comet on the evening of Thursday, 3rd July. Observing this object was challenging due to its faint brightness, currently at magnitude 17.5, making it visible only through large observation lasted 45 minutes, during which 45 images were taken. The comet appears as a moving dot, while the stars appear as observatory submitted its results to the Minor Planet Centre (MPC) of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), making it the first Arab observatory to conduct scientific observations of this comet was discovered by the ATLAS survey system using one of its telescopes located in Chile. Initially, it was given the provisional code "A11pl3Z", then named "C/2025 N1 (ATLAS)", and finally designated "3I/ATLAS".The prefix "3I" indicates that it is the third interstellar object ever discovered. The first was the asteroid ʻOumuamua in 2017, followed by the second comet, 2I/Borisov, in 2019. The comet is currently located about 670 million kilometres from the Sun and is moving at a tremendous speed of 221,000 kilometres per hour. It poses no threat to Earth, as the closest it will come is 240 million kilometres. It will reach its closest point to the Sun on 30th October 2025, at a distance of 210 million kilometres and a predicted brightness of magnitude 11.
