It has hurtled through the void for billions of years, a very old, very cold chunk of rock and ice that has travelled from a distant, unknown star system. Now, this mysterious traveller, officially known as 3I/ATLAS, has everyone on Earth waiting. Scientists are calling it only the third interstellar comet ever found (after the now-famous 1I/'Oumuamua' in 2017 and 2I/'Borisov' in 2019), and its existence alone is enough to excite the global astronomical community.
But this isn't just a scientific curiosity; thanks to some high-profile speculation about alien technology, the object has become a cultural phenomenon. Tonight, all eyes turn to NASA as it releases new photos and information during its live update, hoping to unveil the true nature of this remarkable cosmic visitor.
