The NASA-funded ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) telescope in Rio Hurtado first spotted the object streaking in from the direction of the constellation Sagittarius. At the time, it was about 420 million miles (670 million km) from Earth, roughly the distance to Jupiter, and moving at a blistering 152,000 mph (245,000 km/h).

The object — thought to be a comet — is only the third-ever confirmed interstellar visitor to pass through our cosmic neighborhood. Dubbed 3I/ATLAS, the comet poses no danger to Earth and will remain roughly 150 million miles away as it speeds by, according to NASA.

Canary Islands Institute of Physics Thursday July 03, 2025 shared visuals showing rare interstellar comet '3I/ATLAS' passing through our solar system.