These robots on Mars are about to get our closest view but of the mysterious interstellar customer

NASA and the European Space Agency say its Mars spacecraft are about to get a few of the closest views but of an interstellar object that is presently passing via our Solar System.

Comet 3I/ATLAS was found on 1 July 2025, and has since been noticed and tracked by a few of our strongest telescopes, each on Earth and in area.

The comet is passing via our Solar System, having arrived right here from elsewhere within the Galaxy, and is considered one of solely three such our bodies ever found.

3I/ATLAS about to vanish behind the Sun from our perspective on Earth, and will not be seen once more till early December 2025, when it emerges into our sky once more.

Frustratingly, this era marks the purpose at which will probably be most energetic.

So how can we proceed to look at this interstellar object?

Humanity has a trick up its sleeve, within the type of the spacecraft we have despatched to different planets throughout the Solar System.

3I/ATLAS from Mars

Between 1 and seven October, the European Space Agency’s Mars orbiters – Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter – are scheduled to look at comet 3I/ATLAS because it passes near the planet.

ESA says the closest distance between the spacecraft and the comet shall be 30 million km (18.6 million miles), which is able to happen on 3 October 2025.

Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter are well-established missions, having been exploring Mars since 2003 and 2016, respectively.

There hasn’t been sufficient time to construct and launch a devoted mission to go to and discover 3I/ATLAS, so these orbiters shall be finishing up observations of the comet from their distinctive vantage level on the Red Planet.

ESA’s Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) will observe the comet with a number of devices round its closest strategy to Mars on 3 October 2025.

On that date, 3I/ATLAS shall be round 30 million km from Mars.

These missions are nicely geared up to hold out a few of the important science that astronomers need to obtain earlier than 3I/ATLAS exits our Solar System.

Mars Express will use its High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC), whereas and ExoMars TGO will use its Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS).

Both cameras have been designed to {photograph} the Red Planet, however for a short second they will be pointed at 3I/ATLAS.

ESA says they will be capable of measure the spectrum of sunshine from the comet utilizing Mars Express’s OMEGA and SPICAM spectrometers and TGO’s NOMAD spectrometer.

This might give scientists important details about the exercise occurring on the comet’s floor because it approaches the Sun.

It might even reveal extra about what 3I/ATLAS is made from.

What pictures will we get?

So are we about to get extra spectacular pictures of 3I/ATLAS, like these captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, for instance?

Unfortunately not, in line with ESA.

The cameras on these spacecraft have been designed to {photograph} the floor of Mars from Mars orbit, and will not be capable of select a lot element on such a comparatively small comet 30 million km away.

But the cameras could possibly seize pictures of its lengthy tail and likewise collect knowledge that scientists can use to search out out extra about what 3I/ATLAS is made from.

NASA has additionally stated that its Perseverance and Curiosity Mars rovers will observe 3I/ATLAS in the beginning of October, and that its Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will try and view the comet.

However, no particulars have but been given by NASA as to precisely what its spacecraft shall be in search of, or what kind of scientific knowledge they may be capable of collect.

Once 3I/ATLAS passes Mars, there shall be additional alternatives to amass pictures and knowledge.

Following the Mars fleet’s views of 3I/ATLAS, ESA says in November 2025, it’s going to then be the flip of the Juice mission to catch a glimpse of the comet.

Juice (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) is on its strategy to Jupiter, the place it’s going to discover the planet’s largest icy moons to seek for indicators of habitability, however shall be in an excellent place to try the comet.

What will Juice see when it turns its cameras to 3I/ATLAS? Time will inform.