As 2025 nears its end, it seems fitting to bid farewell to one of its most intriguing guests. Comet 3I/ATLAS has been in the news for months now, providing astronomers and people interested in astronomy with a once-in-a-lifetime look at an object from outside our solar system—as far back as when the “Oumuamua” was seen in 2017. Nomadic objects like these have the opportunity to help us understand the larger galaxy beyond the confines of our solar system.

The process of watching 3I/ATLAS come into view in the sky over the course of several months and slowly fade away is a wonderful example of the dynamic nature of the cosmos that we experience every day. In addition to the unique opportunity that 3I/ATLAS offered to both professional and amateur astronomers to observe various aspects of the comet (such as outgassing, dust tail, trajectory, etc.), what may have made a lasting impression on many was the fact that comets travel quickly and for short periods of time. While it passed safely by Earth, 3I/ATLAS represented a poignant message from another part of the universe in the vast darkness that surrounds us.

Whether you were able to view 3I/ATLAS through a telescope or binoculars, you join a select group of individuals who witnessed the unfolding of space history. And if you did miss seeing it, do not worry. The universe has a way of providing us with surprises. The visits of comets and asteroids from outside our solar system will continue to challenge our current understanding of the planets and remind us that the galaxy may be much more connected than we realize.

As we bid farewell to 3I/ATLAS, let’s contemplate the broader picture: what other enigmas exist beyond our cosmic boundaries and are traversing the stars? What stories does each of them tell about their original systems? And are we prepared, as inhabitants of our tiny planet, to accept them and learn from them?

Good luck with your telescope and your eyes toward the sky as we head into 2026. New travelers and stories await. May your nights be filled with clarity and wonder.