Comets 16 January 2026 - 22 January 2026

NASA’s TESS Spots Rare Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS — New Data Target Its Spin
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NASA’s TESS Spots Rare Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS — New Data Target Its Spin

NASA’s TESS spacecraft captured new images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS between Jan. 15 and 22 as it exits the solar system. The comet, first spotted in July 2025, is only the third known object of its kind. Scientists are analyzing brightness changes to study its rotation and activity. TESS data are now publicly available through the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes.
January 30, 2026
NASA’s TESS pauses planet hunt to track interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as a rare alignment hits
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NASA’s TESS pauses planet hunt to track interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as a rare alignment hits

NASA has paused TESS’s exoplanet search to observe interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS from Jan. 15-22, aiming to capture data during a rare near-opposition alignment. The satellite is collecting images and target pixel files, with all data released immediately to the public. 3I/ATLAS is only the third known interstellar comet. NASA confirms it poses no threat to Earth.
January 22, 2026
NASA interrupts TESS survey to track interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as SPHEREx spots stronger gases
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NASA interrupts TESS survey to track interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as SPHEREx spots stronger gases

NASA redirected its TESS satellite to observe interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS from Jan. 15–22, interrupting its regular schedule. SPHEREx data show the comet’s activity surged after its October perihelion, with emissions of carbon monoxide, water vapor, cyanide, and organics increasing sharply. 3I/ATLAS, discovered in July 2025, is only the third known interstellar object. Data from the TESS campaign will be publicly released.
January 21, 2026