Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Observed by Mars and Jupiter Probes

Why this matters: Studying interstellar comets like 3I/ATLAS can reveal whether planetary systems across the galaxy share common building blocks or if they contain exotic ingredients from other star systems.

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is providing scientists with a rare opportunity to study a visitor from another star system. Its discovery has prompted a coordinated effort by space agencies to observe the comet using various telescopes and spacecraft.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is utilizing spacecraft already in orbit around Mars and en route to Jupiter to track 3I/ATLAS. These missions will provide valuable data on the comet’s size, composition, and surface activity. The observations are particularly crucial during the comet’s perihelion, when the sun’s heat causes its ices to vaporize and stream into space.

Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope and Hubble Space Telescope have already provided initial insights into the comet’s properties. As 3I/ATLAS continues its journey through the solar system, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of its origins and how it compares to comets formed in our own solar system.

3I/ATLAS is an interstellar comet, meaning it originated from outside our solar system.

Approximately 130,000 mph (219,000 km/h).

Around the end of October 2025.

No, 3I/ATLAS poses no threat to Earth or other planets in our solar system.

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