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NASA Mobilizes Fleet to Observe Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

A NASA press release, updated to reflect the full image range from SOHO (Oct. 15 to 26).

Washington, D.C. – NASA is conducting an unprecedented, solar system-wide observation campaign to study comet 3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar object ever detected passing through our cosmic neighborhood. A total of twelve NASA spacecraft and telescopes have already captured images of the comet, since its discovery on July 1, and more opportunities are anticipated as 3I/ATLAS continues its journey.

This coordinated effort provides a unique opportunity for scientists to compare 3I/ATLAS to comets originating within our own solar system, potentially revealing differences in composition and offering insights into the formation and evolution of other planetary systems.

Mars Provides a Front-Row Seat

Several NASA spacecraft orbiting or residing on Mars have provided valuable data. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) secured some of the closest images of the comet during its pass within 19 million miles of the red planet earlier this fall. The MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) orbiter collected ultraviolet images, which will help to determine the comet’s makeup. Even the Perseverance rover captured a faint image of 3I/ATLAS from the Martian surface.

Sun-Watching Missions Join the Hunt

NASA’s heliophysics missions, designed to study the Sun and its influence, also played a crucial role. Missions such as STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) captured images from September 11 to October 2, while the ESA/NASA’s SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) observed the comet from October 15 to 26. PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere), a mission launched earlier this year, was able to capture the comet’s tail from September 20 to October 3. This marks the first time NASA’s heliophysics missions have intentionally observed an interstellar object.

Asteroid-Bound Spacecraft Contribute

Even spacecraft en route to distant asteroid targets joined the observation campaign. The Psyche spacecraft, heading to a metal-rich asteroid, acquired images on September 8 and 9 to refine the comet’s trajectory. Lucy, on its way to study Trojan asteroids, captured images on September 16, which, when combined, reveal details of the comet’s coma and tail.

Hubble, Webb, and More

The NASA-funded ATLAS telescope in Chile, responsible for initially discovering 3I/ATLAS, also played a vital role. The Hubble Space Telescope captured images in July, followed by observations from the James Webb Space Telescope and SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) in August.

Comet 3I/ATLAS will make its closest approach to Earth around December 19th, at a distance of 170 million miles. NASA spacecraft will continue to monitor the comet as it journeys through the solar system, passing the orbit of Jupiter in the spring of 2026.

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