ESA's Mars and Jupiter missions to study interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS
ESA's Mars and Jupiter missions are teaming up to study 3I/ATLAS, a comet from outside our solar system that was discovered in 2025.
It won't get super close—about 30 million kilometers from the Mars orbiters—but it's still a big deal for space science.
Mars missions will observe the comet 1st
From October 1-7, ESA's Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter will watch the comet as it swings by Mars, coming as close as 30 million kilometers.
This is the perfect window to learn what it's made of and how active it gets near the Sun—something ground telescopes may struggle with due to the sunlight.
Then, JUICE will take over for a solar peak observation
Around November 1, ESA's JUICE spacecraft (orbiting Jupiter) will observe the comet as it gets closest to the Sun.
Scientists hope solar heating will spark more activity in the comet, letting them compare its makeup with regular comets from our own solar system.
It's a rare chance to study an interstellar visitor up close!