Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Melvin Gascon

India's AstroSat May Have Spotted 3I/ATLAS First: Where is NASA's Data?

India’s AstroSat observatory, launched by ISRO, may have detected the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS before NASA confirmed its discovery in July 2025. (Credit: YouTube)

India's space telescope AstroSat may have captured images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS days before NASA's official announcement, a claim now stirring global debate over data-sharing and scientific credit.

Researchers involved in AstroSat's monitoring mission say the satellite captured early signs of a fast-moving, unidentified object in late June, days before the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Chile confirmed the discovery on 1 July, as reported by NASA's Planetary Defence Coordination Office.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.