Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS will pass roughly 30 million kilometres from Mars on Oct. 3 — a significantly closer encounter than its approach to Earth. European Mars orbiters are preparing coordinated observations using onboard instruments to collect remote-sensing data during the encounter.
Discovered |
Briefing
3I/ATLAS will pass about 30 million km from Mars on Oct. 3, creating a time‑critical window for Mars orbiters to gather remote‑sensing data on an interstellar object.
The event underscores use of planetary orbiters for small‑body science and observation coordination, building on recent international planning efforts such as ESA and JAXA’s move toward a joint Rapid Apophis flyby (https://hype.aero/?story=bb651471-cdae-4494-bc6a-dd0bcbb366dd) and broader initiatives to equip telescopes and missions for planetary‑defense roles like NASA’s Roman Space Telescope (https://hype.aero/?story=45cf12a7-11d9-4c30-94c4-567d2a269080).
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ESA Prepares to Observe Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS from Mars in October 2025 • news.ssbcrack.com
