A striking new image of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1 ATLAS) has revealed a dramatic transformation in the traveller’s appearance, with its ion tail stretching ever farther into space as the comet becomes increasingly active on its trek through the inner solar system.

The image, captured by the Virtual Telescope Project, showcases a luminous, well-defined ion tail extending from the comet’s bright coma.

The composite view is based on 18 separate 120-second exposures taken by robotic telescopes in Manciano, Italy, under unusually clear autumn skies.

Despite the low altitude of the comet, just 14 degrees above the eastern horizon, and a bright 61 per cent moon glowing nearby, the image shows remarkable detail.

"Exploiting the unusually good weather of this season, we imaged the

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