
The cosmos never fails to deliver a spectacle, and the recent visit by Comet 3I/ATLAS was no exception. For a brief moment, the attention of planetary scientists and the public alike was fixed on this icy wanderer. While the potential for a dramatic encounter sparked widespread interest, NASA has now offered a definitive and reassuring answer to the question on everyone's mind: Earth is safe.
The comet 3I/ATLAS, which originated outside our solar system, passed its closest point to the Sun (its perihelion) on Wednesday and Thursday. This gave scientists prime conditions to study what it is made of.