Stunning Close-Up of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Captured by Mars Orbiter: A New Era in Cosmic Exploration

Two spacecraft on Mars recently captured stunning images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. This is the closest view the European Space Agency (ESA) will get of this mysterious object, as stated in an ESA announcement.

3I/ATLAS came from an unknown star system and is currently passing through our solar system. It made its closest approach to Mars on October 3, just weeks before a close encounter with the sun on October 30. During this flyby, the comet was visible to ESA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and Mars Express.

Despite being about 18.6 million miles (30 million kilometers) away, the TGO successfully captured a series of images. ESA combined these images into an animated GIF, which shows the comet as a fuzzy dot gliding across space at approximately 130,000 mph (210,000 km/h).

What We See in the Images

The bright dot in the images represents the comet’s nucleus—a ball of icy rock—and its coma, a cloud of gas and dust released as the comet heats up close to the sun. As comets approach the sun, the heat causes the ice to turn into gas, making the coma larger and brighter. This process also creates the comet’s distinctive tail, although it’s not visible in these early images.

Nick Thomas, a principal investigator for ExoMars, mentioned that the comet is 10,000 to 100,000 times fainter than typical targets for the TGO. So while we can see a little about its structure, details like the tail may become clearer as it gets closer to the sun.

The Bigger Picture

3I/ATLAS is notable because it’s the third confirmed interstellar object to pass through our solar system, following 1I/’Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov. What sets 3I/ATLAS apart is its size—it’s estimated to be between 3 and 7 miles (5 to 11 km) wide. Experts suggest that it has been traveling through the galaxy for billions of years and is likely much older than our sun.

Interestingly, the comet is currently hidden behind the sun from Earth’s perspective but will return to visibility for ground-based telescopes in early December. It’s set to make a close pass by Jupiter in March 2026 before heading out of our solar system.

A Little Context

Historically, comets like 3I/ATLAS have fascinated astronomers and the public alike. In recent years, social media has buzzed with excitement over discoveries in space. User reactions often reflect a mix of awe and curiosity about what these celestial visitors reveal about our universe.

As we observe 3I/ATLAS, scientists hope to gather more insights into its composition and behavior. The continuous monitoring by ESA and NASA will offer new information that could clarify how these ancient objects travel through space.

For further reading on comets, check out NASA’s information on their unique characteristics.

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