A rare interstellar visitor near the Red Planet
Astronomers are turning their telescopes toward a remarkable traveler from outside our solar system. 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar comet, is currently on a path that brings it past Mars. While the Sun keeps Earth observers in its glare, several Mars-orbiting spacecraft provide a closer, protection-free look at the object as it traverses the inner solar system. The interest is not only in the novelty of an interstellar body, but also in what such visitors can teach us about materials and origins outside our own planetary neighborhood.
Perseverance captures the first image
Early reports indicate that NASA’s Perseverance rover has taken the first photographs of this unusual visitor, although official high-resolution images have not yet been released by NASA. The lack of an official NASA release does not diminish the significance: the rover’s imagery, combined with observations from orbiters, can help scientists locate the comet and study its tail, coma, and structure from a unique Martian vantage point. Amateur astronomers have already shared tentative images online, sparking excitement across the astronomy community.
Observations from Mars orbiters and space telescopes
Even though 3I/ATLAS is currently on the side of the Sun farthest from Earth, Mars offers a rare observational advantage. Several Mars missions are equipped with cameras and spectrometers that can observe the comet more closely than ground-based facilities might allow. The European Space Agency (ESA) has coordinated expectations with its orbiters, including Mars Express and the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, for close monitoring as the object passes by Mars. An ESA statement noted opportunities for close approaches within tens of millions of kilometers from the Martian system while the comet remains visible to a distant observer.
In addition to ESA’s assets, NASA’s HiRISE camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is also tracking 3I/ATLAS from space. The combination of orbital data and any potential ground-based images could yield a wealth of information about the comet’s physics, composition, and origin—especially valuable given that 3I/ATLAS is believed to be an object born outside our Solar System.
What we know about 3I/ATLAS
Discovered by the NASA/ATLAS survey on July 1, 2025, 3I/ATLAS has drawn attention as a teardrop-shaped dust cloud forming a diffuse coma around a solid icy nucleus. Scientists emphasize that it does not pose a threat to Earth or any other planet, and its trajectory is primarily of interest for study rather than risk assessment. The comet’s path will bring it to a maximum solar distance of about 210 million kilometers (approximately 130 million miles) on October 30, 2025, with peak proximity to the Sun occurring along its interstellar voyage.
Observations from powerful instruments, including the Hubble Space Telescope (and, in principle, future deep-space assets), indicate that the object travels at extraordinary speeds—an interstellar visitor moving roughly 210,000 kilometers per hour (about 130,500 miles per hour). That velocity underscores why 3I/ATLAS is considered one of the most intriguing celestial travelers ever detected by humankind.
Why interstellar visitors matter
For scientists, 3I/ATLAS offers a rare chance to study material formed around another star system. Analyzing its composition, dust grains, and the behavior of its outgassing as it nears the Sun can reveal clues about the diversity of planetary systems beyond our own. The event also serves as a test case for the capabilities of current space missions to observe transient, fast-moving objects that do not originate from within the Solar System.
What comes next
As 3I/ATLAS continues its passage, researchers expect a stream of data from orbiting platforms and possibly future ground-based alerts. While official NASA and ESA image releases may be delayed or staggered due to administrative or operational factors, the international collaboration surrounding Mars observations is well underway. The collective effort aims to produce a detailed account of the comet’s trajectory, activity, and physical properties—data that will feed astrophysical models for years to come.
