Comet 3I/ATLAS — the third confirmed interstellar object — will pass roughly 30 million kilometres from Mars on Oct. 3, and a fleet of Mars orbiters will aim instruments at the visitor. NASA's MRO/HiRISE will attempt high-resolution images while European and other orbiters collect complementary remote-sensing data.
Discovered |
Briefing
The comet's close approach (roughly 30 million kilometres on Oct. 3) provides a nearer, multi-instrument vantage than Earth-based observations, with MRO/HiRISE and other orbiters attempting targeted imaging and spectroscopy (https://hype.aero/?story=09c70775-58ef-43e6-914a-47b180b7b5eb).
Data from Mars orbiters will complement Hubble/JWST detections that revealed a nucleus and growing tail, and will refine dynamics of an object travelling at ~210,000 km/h (https://hype.aero/?story=1a1427bd-82fa-421a-8fa5-0e1f0d6ee3bb; https://hype.aero/?story=d9191141-7d3f-412d-8894-37495b62123f).
The encounter exercises rapid-response observing across international assets and feeds directly into recent studies showing low-cost flyby/intercept mission profiles to interstellar comets are feasible (https://hype.aero/?story=35fa320d-90c6-4b9a-aa6c-d050c8103c4b).
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ESA Monitors Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS During Close Mars Flyby • news.ssbcrack.com
ESA Speaks Out on Mysterious Interstellar Object Zooming Past Mars • dailygalaxy.com
(PL) Mysterious comet observed by Mars probe • space24.pl
ESA Releases First Images Of 3I-ATLAS From Mars • orbitaltoday.com
Mars missions image Comet 3I/ATLAS during red planet flyby • earthsky.org
Mars Orbiter Captures Rare Images of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS • New York Times
Scientists to get closest look yet at mysterious object near Mars • The Independent
Interstellar comet swinging past Mars as a fleet of spacecraft looks on • The Independent
