3I/ATLAS Updates: New Images, Euclid’s Galaxy Garland & Saturn’s Ring Spokes

In today’s update, we walk through a new set of space and sky images — starting with the latest observations of 3I/ATLAS.

New backyard and wide-field captures from December 21–22 show the object continuing to hold a compact structure after perihelion. Independent observers, different instruments, and short integrations all point to the same result: the geometry persists even as brightness fades.

We then shift scale — from an interstellar visitor to a deep-field view from the Euclid space telescope. A striking image of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 646 reveals how gravity shapes galaxies over hundreds of millions of years, offering a preview of what Euclid’s long-term survey will uncover.

Next, we look closer to home. Saturn’s ring spokes, captured by Hubble, show transient electromagnetic effects that appear and vanish with the planet’s seasons — a reminder that even familiar worlds still behave in unexpected ways.

We close with Earth itself. A winter solstice aurora over Finland shows charged particles interacting with our magnetic field, followed by a rare atmospheric sprite captured from orbit — lightning reaching into the upper atmosphere.

Different distances. Different timescales.
One universe, observed carefully.

What do you think about today’s updates — and should we continue tracking new 3I/ATLAS images as they come in?

Sources & Credits

3I/ATLAS (Interstellar Object)

Backyard astrophotography and time-series montage
Credit: Rob Kaufman (Australia)

Independent confirmation image
Credit: Ivan Vazquez (@KalopaStars), Seestar S50

3I/ATLAS Multi-band / Jet Analysis

Image credit: Toni Scarmato

Larson–Sekanina filtering and multi-wavelength analysis

Euclid Galaxy Garland

Galaxy: NGC 646

Credit: ESA / Euclid / Euclid Consortium / NASA

Image processing: Euclid Science Ground Segment, M. Schirmer (MPIA)

Saturn Ring Spokes

Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI

Contributors: Amy Simon (NASA-GSFC), Joseph DePasquale (STScI)

Winter Solstice Auroras

Credit: Sebastian Sainio

Location: Raippaluoto, Finland

Date: December 22, 2025

Atmospheric Sprite

Captured from the International Space Station

Credit: Astronaut Nichole Rhea Ayers

Fair Use Notice
All imagery is used for commentary, analysis, education, and reporting under fair use. Full credit is given to original observers and institutions.

#3IATLAS
#Astronomy
#SpaceScience
#Astrophotography
#SkyEvents