On July 1, 2025, the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey telescope, located in northern Chile, spotted a new object just inside the orbit of Jupiter. ATLAS scans the sky every night looking for any new comets or asteroids, with specific interest in anything that could be on a collision course with Earth.

Well, it's July 12, which means (a) the Steam Summer Sale is over and (b) it's really hot outside in the northeastern U.S. This week, researchers discovered a cool new fish and named it after Darth Vader.

Scientists now say an interstellar comet discovered earlier this month could be one of the oldest that astronomers have ever encountered.

Kareta says that come October, when the comet gets closer to Earth, "under dark skies ... with a big telescope and some patience, maybe you might be able to see it." Which he says would be special because, "that might be the first time anyone has actually seen the light from an interstellar object with their own eyes."