There's a new interstellar comet in the neighborhood! Known as 3I/ATLAS, this comet poses no threat to Earth – but it does provide a rare opportunity to study an object that originated outside of our solar system: https://t.co/7ihCiHi91t pic.twitter.com/2XT3NRyCOz

Only the third known interstellar object to enter our Solar System will swing so close to Mars that it might be visible to the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltec

Astronomers have observed an object that originated from beyond our solar system, thought to be an interstellar comet, speeding through our celestial neighborhood.

NASA has discovered a new interstellar comet that's currently located about 420 million miles away from Earth. The space agency spotted the quick-moving object with the Atlas telescope in Chile on Tuesday and confirmed it was a comet from another star system. The new interstellar comet's official name is 3I/ATLAS.

NASA telescopes in Chile have discovered a comet from interstellar space, making its closest approach in October.