December is finally here, and with it comes the much-anticipated close approach of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. This strange celestial visitor, which has captivated both the scientific community and the general public, is about to make its closest-ever pass to our planet.
For a brief period, this ancient space object — composed of planetary material from another star — will offer astronomers their best chance to study a genuine cosmic outsider. Of course, the phenomenon has also fuelled a rather sensational conspiracy theory: that 3I/ATLAS could be an incoming spaceship.
