Washington DC, October 3, 2025 — A rare and breathtaking astronomical event is unfolding in space as the interstellar comet 3i/Atlas speeds past Mars this Friday. Scientists from across the globe are closely watching as this mysterious cosmic traveler approaches the Red Planet at astonishing speed.
NASA has now deployed a fleet of orbiters and spacecraft — described by experts as “space detectives” — to observe the comet’s behavior, hoping for groundbreaking discoveries about the origins of interstellar objects.
☄️ Interstellar Visitor Approaches Mars
The comet 3i/Atlas is only the third known interstellar object to enter our solar system and pass so close to Mars. NASA confirmed that the comet will reach a minimum distance of about 30 million kilometers (18.6 million miles) from the planet’s surface — a rare proximity for such an object.
Multiple spacecraft are currently orbiting Mars, equipped with high-resolution cameras to capture this unique moment. Among them is NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, which is en route to the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche. Psyche will get a clear view of 3i/Atlas shortly after it passes Mars.
🪐 Next Stop: Jupiter
After its Mars flyby, comet 3i/Atlas will continue its journey toward Jupiter. The European Space Agency’s JUICE (Jupiter ICy Moons Explorer) mission will monitor the comet between November 2–25, as it reaches its closest point to the Sun — known as perihelion.
This is when the comet becomes most active and bright, due to intense solar heating. Jets of gas and dust erupt from its surface, creating a spectacular coma and tail that scientists hope to study in unprecedented detail.
🛰️ NASA and ESA Prepare for Rare Observations
NASA and ESA have mobilized some of their most advanced orbiters to record this celestial event.
-
ESA’s Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter will observe the comet as it passes near Mars.
-
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), equipped with the powerful HiRISE camera, will attempt to capture high-resolution images of the comet’s nucleus and surrounding dust cloud.
These coordinated observations from multiple spacecraft will give scientists a unique multi-angle view of the interstellar comet — something that has never been done before.
🚀 Comet 3i/Atlas: Fast and Mysterious
According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), 3i/Atlas is traveling at nearly 130,000 mph (219,000 km/h). Its nucleus is estimated to be less than 1 kilometer in diameter. Spectral analysis has revealed the presence of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and water vapor in its tail — similar to typical comets, but with some intriguing differences.
From Earth, viewing the comet will be difficult due to its proximity to the Sun in the sky. This makes spacecraft observations crucial for studying its structure, composition, and trajectory.
🧪 Artificial or Natural? Scientists Debate
Adding to the intrigue, Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb has suggested that some unusual characteristics of 3i/Atlas might indicate an artificial origin — possibly debris or technology from another star system.
However, most scientists, including NASA researchers, believe the comet is a naturally formed interstellar object. Still, its unusual texture and behavior suggest it may differ significantly from the familiar comets of our solar system.
🌠 A Rare Scientific Opportunity
This flyby gives NASA and ESA a once-in-a-generation opportunity to study an interstellar visitor up close. Data collected during this event could shed light on how comets form in distant star systems, and how they survive their long journeys through interstellar space.
“This is like a detective mystery happening millions of kilometers away,” said Dr. Sarah Peterson of NASA’s Planetary Science Division. “Every observation could unlock new secrets about our galaxy.”
Also read – lon Musk vs Netflix: Why a Single Tweet Sparked a Global Boycott..
