Story perspectives

ESA's TGO Captures Images of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

10/8/2025

Summary

Story summary

On Oct 3, 2025, ESA's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and Mars Express observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, 30 million km away.
3I/ATLAS, discovered July 1, 2025, is the third interstellar comet after 1I/'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov.
TGO used the Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) to image 3I/ATLAS as a dot with a coma.
JUICE observations planned for November 2025 as the comet approaches the Sun.

History

Historical Context

The discovery of the first interstellar object, 1I/'Oumuamua, in 2017 by the Pan-STARRS1 telescope marked a pivotal moment in astronomy, revealing unusual "dark comet" behavior and non-gravitational acceleration. This sparked further exploration, leading to the observation of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS by ESA's ExoMars and Mars Express, highlighting humanity's expanding understanding of celestial phenomena and future observational plans for 2025.

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Story summary

On Oct 3, 2025, ESA's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and Mars Express observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, 30 million km away.
3I/ATLAS, discovered July 1, 2025, is the third interstellar comet after 1I/'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov.
TGO used the Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) to image 3I/ATLAS as a dot with a coma.
JUICE observations planned for November 2025 as the comet approaches the Sun.

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