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| Image :NASA |
The European Space Agency (ESA) is gearing up for a remarkable chance to observe the interstellar comet 3I/Atlas from what might be the most advantageous position in the solar system.
On July 1, 2025, astronomers made the rare and astonishing discovery of an interstellar object within our solar system, igniting a rush to investigate this enigmatic visitor. The object has been named comet 3I/ATLAS, with 3I denoting "third interstellar," and it has been classified as C/2025 N1 (ATLAS).
Interestingly, it appears that observations from Mars, rather than Earth, may provide us with the closest view of the comet. 3I/ATLAS is expected to approach Mars at a distance of about 18.6 million miles (30 million kilometers), while its closest approach to Earth will be a much greater 168 million miles (270 million km).
This means that spacecraft orbiting Mars are in a prime position to observe it.
"We can confirm that we are planning to observe 3I/Atlas around the time of its closest approach to Mars," Wilson stated. "This is expected to happen on 3 October 2025. On that day, the object will still be roughly 30 million kilometers away from Mars."
ESA intends to utilize both the Mars Express and the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) spacecraft for these observations.
"We will strive to capture images of the object using the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) aboard Mars Express, as well as the Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) on TGO," he added .