Scientists worldwide are gearing up for a unique opportunity to study a rare interstellar comet, 3I/ATLAS, which is currently passing through our solar system. Discovered on July 1, 2025, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), this is the third known interstellar object observed in our system. Unlike previous visitors like 1I/’Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov, 3I/ATLAS offers new insights into cometary activity from beyond our solar system.
The European Space Agency (ESA) plans to observe the comet closely when it passes approximately 30 million kilometers from Mars on October 3, 2025. Mars orbiters, including Mars Express and the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), will attempt to capture images and spectral data, which could reveal details about the comet’s shape, composition, and volatile activity.
Launching a dedicated probe from Earth to intercept 3I/ATLAS is currently unfeasible due to the very high propulsion requirements. Instead, scientists propose deploying space missions from Mars, which requires less energy, to perform flybys and collect data during the comet’s close approach.
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has already contributed observations, while other spacecraft, such as Europa Clipper and the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE), may intersect the comet’s tail at later dates, providing additional study opportunities.
This scientific endeavor represents an extraordinary chance to examine material formed around other stars and better understand the universe’s building blocks. The findings could revolutionize our knowledge of comet evolution, solar system formation, and interstellar chemistry.
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