Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS zips past Sun, to be monitored by Mars and Jupiter spacecraft

Astronomers are monitoring closely 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar comet that is moving through our solar system. Spotted initially in July 2025 from Chile, the comet moves at the incredible 130,000 mph. Its unusual trajectory shows it comes from beyond our solar system, making it only the third known interstellar object to visit Earth’s neighbourhood. Scientists are racing to gather data before it moves behind the sun.

How ESA Spacecraft Will Observe 3I/ATLAS

The European Space Agency is using Mars and Jupiter missions to monitor the comet in real time. Observing from beyond Earth allows instruments to track the comet even when Earth-based telescopes lose sight. Mars orbiters, including Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, will observe the comet between October 1 and 7. The spacecraft will pass as close as 30 million kilometres on October 3. NASA’s Psyche mission, en route to asteroid 16 Psyche, will also collect data. Later, ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or JUICE, will focus on the comet from November 2 to 25, observing its active phase near perihelion.

Why Studying 3I/ATLAS Matters