Astronomers are preparing for a rare cosmic event on January 22, when interstellar object 3I/ATLAS will align closely with Earth and the Sun, passing within just 0.69 degrees of the Sun-Earth axis.
The other two known interstellar comets did not offer such an opportunity.
3I/ATLAS will enter a rare opposition phase, aligning on the axial path of Earth and Sun on Jan 22 (EST) or Jan 23 at 5 am ...