Overview: A rare interstellar visitor heads into the depths of space
The night sky is set to host a unique astronomical event as interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS makes a dramatic exit from our solar system. On Nov. 16, stargazers around the world can tune in to a free telescope livestream hosted by the Virtual Telescope Project, gaining detailed views as the comet races away from the Sun on an escape trajectory. While comets are common visitors in our cosmic neighborhood, an object originating beyond the solar system offers a rare glimpse into a foreign region of the galaxy, captured with modern ground-based telescopes and image processing techniques.
What makes 3I/ATLAS special?
Discovered in October 2017 by the ATLAS survey, 3I/ATLAS is the archetype of a new class: interstellar objects that traverse the solar system with hyperbolic orbits. Its trajectory carries it past the Sun at high speed, a clear sign it is not bound to our star. For observers using a livestream, the event presents an excellent opportunity to study the comet’s coma, tail structure, and the evolving brightness as solar radiation acts on its icy nucleus. Scientists will be watching for changes in color, activity levels, and any tail disconnection that can reveal the composition of 3I/ATLAS’s ices and dust grains.
The livestream experience: What to expect on Nov. 16
Hosted by the Virtual Telescope Project, the event will stream real-time telescope views, supplemented by expert commentary and high-resolution imagery. Viewers should expect detailed close-ups of the comet’s nucleus, the evolving coma, and the faint, possibly elongated tail as the object speeds away from the Sun. The session is designed for both science enthusiasts and general audiences, offering accessible explanations of orbital dynamics, photometry, and the techniques astronomers use to isolate the faint light of 3I/ATLAS from the night sky.
How to watch
To participate, simply visit the Virtual Telescope Project’s livestream page on November 16. The broadcast typically features a short setup window, followed by a well-paced sequence of telescope images, occasionally interspersed with live Q&A from the host team. Viewers can expect periodic updates about the comet’s distance from Earth, its velocity, and the quality of the night sky conditions affecting the data. For education-minded families and students, the commentary provides a practical look at how interstellar objects are detected, tracked, and analyzed using publicly available data and professional-grade telescopes.
Why this event matters for science and the public
3I/ATLAS is a vivid reminder that our solar system exists within a broader galactic neighborhood. Observations of interstellar comets can shed light on the diversity of materials in other star systems and can help test theories about planet formation in different cosmic environments. Even as the comet recedes into interstellar space, the data collected during this livestream can fuel research on nucleus activity, outgassing rates, and the interaction of solar radiation with ices. The event also serves to engage the public in astronomy, illustrating how citizen-friendly platforms and professional observatories come together to explore the cosmos.
What to look for in the footage
Observers should note the brightness variations of 3I/ATLAS, the formation and evolution of its coma, and any visible shifts in tail structure. The interplay between the Sun’s light and the comet’s surface exposes material composition and activity patterns that are not visible from within the inner solar system. Photometric measurements captured during the livestream can help researchers refine estimates of the comet’s size, albedo, and outgassing behavior, contributing to a broader understanding of interstellar visitors.
Bottom line
On November 16, the Virtual Telescope Project offers a rare window into an interstellar traveler, with high-quality telescope imagery and expert insights. Whether you’re a serious stargazer or a curious observer, the livestream promises a memorable view of 3I/ATLAS racing away from the Sun and leaving behind questions that scientists will continue to investigate for years to come.
