NASA's HiRISE camera is set to release images of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS in the coming days, offering a unique perspective on its anti-tail and nucleus. This highly anticipated release will provide valuable insights into the object's geometry and diameter, complementing previous Hubble Space Telescope observations. The HiRISE images, captured on October 2-3, 2025, during 3I/ATLAS's close approach to Mars, offer a side-view of the anti-tail and jets, with a spatial resolution three times better than Hubble's. Despite not resolving the nucleus itself, HiRISE can set a precise diameter constraint based on the brightest pixel. The images were delayed due to a 43-day government shutdown, highlighting the importance of scientific data sharing over bureaucratic hurdles, especially for time-sensitive observations. Meanwhile, astronomers have discovered an even larger object, Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein (C/2014 UN271), approaching the Sun from the Oort Cloud. With a nucleus diameter exceeding 100 kilometers, it's the largest Oort Cloud comet known. The comet's rapid brightening at 20-25 AU suggests sublimation of carbon dioxide or ammonia ices. The orbital inclination of 95.5 degrees makes a direct spacecraft rendezvous challenging, but a Jupiter gravity assist is feasible post-ecliptic crossing, with optimal launch dates in 2030-2034. As we await the HiRISE images, the public data will reveal the truth about 3I/ATLAS, bypassing gatekeepers' narratives.
