Interstellar comet keeps its distance as it makes its closest approach to Earth

A wandering comet from another star passes near Earth. Discovered during the summer, the comet known as 3I/Atlas will pass on Friday less than 267 million kilometers from our planet. This is as close as you can get on its grand tour of the solar system. NASA continues to point its space telescopes at the visiting ice ball. But it fades as it returns to interstellar space, never to return. It is the third known interstellar object to cross our path. Scientists think it could come from a star system much older than ours, which would make it a tempting target.