SPHEREx Captures Dramatic Outburst of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

NASA’s SPHEREx telescope captured a dramatic outburst from interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS after its close solar flyby in October 2025. Infrared observations in December revealed water vapor, carbon dioxide, methanol, methane, and cyanide erupting from the comet’s nucleus. Scientists say the chemical makeup suggests formation in a relatively warm environment beyond our solar system. The rare detection provides valuable insight into the composition and thermal history of material formed around another distant star system.