C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) (3I ATLAS)

Type: Hyperbolic Perihelion date: 29 October 2025 Perihelion distance (q): 1.4 Aphelion distance (Q) : n/a Period (years): n/a Eccentricity (e): 6.14 Inclination (i): 175.1 JPL orbit diagram COBS lightcurve Atlas The ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) team discovered an 18th magnitude object in images taken with the 0.5 m Schmidt at Rio Hurtado, Chile on 1 July 2025. Prediscovery observations were quickly found that revealed it to be on a hyperbolic path. It had been passing through the dense star clouds of the galactic centre, explaining why it hadn't been discovered earlier, but allowing the location of pre-discovery images once a rough orbit was known. The comet could reach 12.5 around the time of perihelion, but is then too close to the Sun for observation. After perihelion it emerges into the morning sky and could be visible at aound 13 in late November. Observations (VEMag = visual equivalent magnitude) Date 10x10 mag Error VEmag Coma ' 03-Jul-25 18.2 0.4 18-Jul-25 17.4 0.4 15-Aug-25 16.3 0.3