A rare visitor from beyond our Solar System—designated 3I/ATLAS —is slicing through our neighbourhood, presenting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study material from another star system. Discovered on 1 July 2025 by the Asteroid Terrestrial‑impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in Chile, this object is the third confirmed interstellar visitor after 1I/ʻOumuamua and 2I/Borisov and will reach its closest point to the Sun (perihelion) around 30 October 2025 at about 1.4 astronomical units (AU). The good news: it poses no threat to Earth, with its closest approach remaining at roughly 1.8 AU. Key Numbers Discovery date: 1 July 2025. Speed: ~130,000 mph (≈210,000 km/h) relative to the Sun. Perihelion: ~30 October 2025 at ~1.4 AU from the Sun. Closest Earth distance: ~1.8 AU (~270 million km). Objects before it: 1I/ʻOumuamua (2017) & 2I/Borisov (2019). Quick Facts & Timeline When was 3I/ATLAS discovered? It was officially reported on 1...