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

Officially named 3I/ATLAS, the comet was confirmed as having originated outside of Earth's solar system on July 3, according to the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA. It is believed to be about 20 kilometers, or over 12 miles wide, according to the ESA and traveling at about 60 kilometers, or 37 miles per second relative to the sun.

S omething unusual is moving through our solar system -a fast, faint object now confirmed to have originated beyond it. Astronomers have officially designated the discovery as 3I/ATLAS, marking it as just the third known interstellar object ever detected,