<div class="" data-article-body="true"><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">An interstellar comet first spotted passing through our solar system in July is beginning its departure from our corner of the universe — but first it will fly by Earth, and scientists are capturing stunning new images during its approach.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Known as 3I/ATLAS, the comet will make its closest pass by us on Friday, coming within about 167 million miles (270 million kilometers) of our planet, but on the other side of the sun. For reference, the sun’s distance from Earth is about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers).</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Comet 3I/ATLAS won’t be visible to the naked eye and the optimal viewing window, which opened in November, has passed. Those hoping to glimpse it will need an 8-inch (20-centimeter) telescope or larger, according to <a href="https://earthsky.org/space/new-interstellar-object-candidate-heading-toward-the-sun-a11pl3z/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:EarthSky;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">EarthSky</a>.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">The Virtual Telescope Project will <a href="https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/webtv/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:share a livestream;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">share a livestream</a> of the comet at 4:00 a.m. UTC on Friday, or 11 p.m. ET Thursday. In the event of cloudy weather, the webcast will be delayed 24 hours, said Gianluca Masi, astronomer and astrophysicist at the Bellatrix Astronomical Observatory in Italy and founder and scientific director of the Virtual Telescope Project.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">The comet is expected to remain visible to telescopes and space missions for a few more months before exiting our solar system, according to <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/3i-atlas/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:NASA;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">NASA</a>.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Astronomers have closely tracked the comet since its initial discovery over the summer in the hopes of uncovering details about its origin outside of our solar system as well as its composition. Multiple missions have observed the object in optical, infrared and radio wavelengths of light — and recently, scientists captured their first glimpses in X-rays to and discovered new details.</p><h3 class="mb-4 text-lg font-bold">X-raying an interstellar visitor</h3><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Comets that originate in our solar system emit X-rays, but astronomers have long wondered whether interstellar comets behave the same.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Although previous attempts to find out were made as two other interstellar comets passed through our solar system in 2017 and 2019, no X-rays were detected.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">But that all changed with 3I/ATLAS.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Japan’s X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission, or XRISM, observed 3I/ATLAS for 17 hours in late November with its Xtend telescope. The instrument captured X-rays fanning out to a distance of 248,000 miles (400,000 kilometers) from the comet’s solid core, or nucleus, which could be a result of clouds of gas around the object, according to the <a href="https://www.xrism.jaxa.jp/en/topics/news/1208/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency</a>. But more observations are needed to confirm the finding.</p><figure class="relative mb-4"><div class="relative"><img alt="XRISM captured an image of comet 3I/ATLAS in X-ray light. - JAXA/ESA" loading="lazy" width="960" height="540" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="rounded-lg" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/dgVz9ChBrHugos8.MFI0fg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/cnn_articles_875/b7089693393ff2839f5089ff0355a499"><button aria-label="View larger image" class="group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent" data-ylk="elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;"><span class="absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none"><svg viewbox="0 0 22 22" aria-hidden="true" class="size-4 lg:size-6" width="22" height="22"><path d="M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z"></path></svg></span></button><dialog aria-label="Modal Dialog" aria-modal="true" class="fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden"></dialog></div><figcaption class="relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5"><div style="max-height:none;overflow:visible">XRISM captured an image of comet 3I/ATLAS in X-ray light. - JAXA/ESA</div></figcaption></figure><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">X-rays can originate from interactions between gases given off by the comet — such as water vapor, carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide — and the continuous stream of charged particles releasing from the sun called solar wind. Comets, which are a combination of ice, rock, dust and gas, heat up as they approach stars like the sun, causing them to sublimate materials. XRISM detected signatures of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen near the comet’s nucleus.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">The European Space Agency’s X-ray space observatory XMM-Newton also observed the interstellar comet on December 3 for about 20 hours using its most sensitive camera. A dramatic image released by the agency shows the red X-ray glow of the comet.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">The X-ray observations, combined with others across various wavelengths of light, could reveal what the comet is made of — and just how similar or different the object is from those in our own solar system.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Sign up for <a href="https://www.cnn.com/newsletters/wonder-theory?source=nl-acq_article" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter</a>. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.</p><p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at <a href="http://www.cnn.com/account/register?source=external-feeds_iluminar&amp;cid=external-feeds_iluminar_yahoo&amp;registration_email_campaign=https://www.cnn.com/newsletters" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:CNN.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">CNN.com</a></p></div>

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS will make its closest approach to Earth on Friday. New X-ray images could shed light on its composition.

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS to pass closest to Earth on Friday

Playing computer games with companions is an incredible method for holding, contend, and have some good times together. The PlayStation 5 offers


Make your choice for the PS5 game that you love playing with companions!


Making a light extravagance stylish in your room includes mixing complexity with effortlessness to accomplish an exquisite yet welcoming space.


2024 Manual for Light Extravagance Room Feel: What's Moving


Hot air expanding offers a remarkable and peaceful method for encountering a portion of the world's most staggering scenes from a


Remarkable Spots for Hot Air Swelling All over The Planet


It is the latest in a spate of violent attacks in Niger state, and comes a day after officials said schools could reopen following a mass abduction last year.

At least 30 killed in attack on Nigeria village

Moments after Luigi Mangione was handcuffed at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s, a police officer searching his backpack found a loaded gun magazine wrapped in a pair of underwear.  The discovery, recounted in court Monday as Mangione fights to keep evidence out of his New York murder case, convinced police in Altoona, Pennsylvania, that he was the man wanted in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan five days earlier.

Bullets in Luigi Mangione’s bag convinced police that he was UnitedHealthcare CEO killing suspect

The European Space Agency said that the black hole inside the spiral galaxy NGC 3783 has the mass of 30 million suns.

Astronomers detect black hole blasting winds at incredible speeds

In recent years, a major ocean current changed its path in two crucial ways. Now parts of the sea are rising, other parts are falling, ocean temperatures are breaking records — and Japan’s iconic fishing industry is in trouble.

Why the weirdest sea level changes on Earth are happening off the coast of Japan

Setting out on a waterway journey is likened to venturing into a moving material of stunning scenes, dynamic societies, and verifiable


Instructions to Pick the Best Course for Your Next Waterway Voyage: Objections, Views, and Social Encounters


The Slam 1500 isn't only commended for its solidarity and toughness, yet in addition for its state of the art mechanical elements. At


Figure out How to Explore the Infotainment Framework in the Slam 1500.


The decision undoes a highly effective 34-year prevention strategy that has nearly eliminated early childhood hepatitis B infections in the U.S.

Vaccine committee votes to scrap universal hepatitis B shots for newborns despite outcry from children’s health experts

"We do not know with certainty that we found a superkilonova, but the event nevertheless is eye-opening."

Astronomers may have spotted the 1st known 'superkilonova' double star explosion

The Japanese Service of Land, Framework, Transport, and The travel industry (MLIT) has sent off an examination concerning potential fdulent exercises encompassing the


Examination In progress into Abuse of Japanese Government-Supported Advance


For photography fans, claiming a great DSLR camera can fundamentally improve their capacity to catch staggering pictures. With various choices


Great DSLR Cameras for Photography Devotees


The law hasn't been invoked since the 1992 L.A. riots.