NASA is currently conducting a significant observation campaign of the solar system, focusing on the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. Since its discovery on July 1, twelve different NASA assets have successfully captured and processed images of this unique comet. Their findings are expected to provide insights into the differences between 3I/ATLAS and comets originating from our solar system.
Navigating the Solar System: Observations of Comet 3I/ATLAS
Comet 3I/ATLAS is the third known interstellar object to traverse our solar system. This comet presents an opportunity for scientists to explore the characteristics that distinguish it from other comets.
Close-Up Views from Mars
- The closest observations of 3I/ATLAS were made by NASA spacecraft at Mars.
- On its flyby, the comet passed 19 million miles from Mars.
- The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) captured one of the best images, while the MAVEN orbiter took ultraviolet images for further analysis.
- NASA’s Perseverance rover also managed to observe the comet from the Martian surface.
Tracking From the Sun
NASA’s heliophysics missions played a crucial role in tracking 3I/ATLAS as it moved past the Sun, rendering observations from Earth impossible.
- NASA’s STEREO observed the comet between September 11 and October 2.
- The ESA and NASA SOHO mission recorded images on October 15 and 16.
- Nasa’s PUNCH mission, launched earlier this year, revealed the comet’s tail during its observations from September 20 to October 3.
Explorations from Asteroid Missions
The spacecraft Psyche and Lucy, designed to study asteroids, also captured images of 3I/ATLAS during their missions.
- Psyche took four observations over eight hours from a distance of 33 million miles on September 8 and 9.
- Lucy gathered images from 240 million miles away on September 16, providing details about the comet’s coma and tail.
Significant Discoveries and Future Observations
3I/ATLAS was discovered by the ATLAS telescope in Chile. It has also been observed by other prestigious instruments, including NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, the James Webb Telescope, and SPHEREx.
The comet is expected to make its closest approach to Earth on December 19, at a distance of approximately 170 million miles, nearly double the distance between Earth and the Sun. NASA will continue to monitor 3I/ATLAS as it approaches the orbit of Jupiter in spring 2026.
For additional details on NASA’s observations of comet 3I/ATLAS, visit El-Balad.
