Comet arrival before Christmas echoes biblical story

(Image credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, D. Jewitt (UCLA). Image Processing: J. DePasquale (STScI).)

An interstellar comet will be visible in the skies on 19 December, coming the closest to Earth than it has been during the whole life of the universe, writes Brian Byrne. Comet 3I/ATLAS is only the third known interstellar object to enter our solar system.

The object was first spotted on July 1, 2025, by the Deep Random Survey remote telescope in Chile, part of the ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) project.

Astronomers believe 3I/ATLAS has been travelling through the Milky Way galaxy for billions of years. It will be visible through telescopes and strong binoculars.

Its closest point of arrival just before Christmas could be seen as appropriate in the context of the biblical story of the star reputedly guiding the Magi (wise men) to Jesus at his birth.

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