An interstellar visitor, comet 3I/ATLAS, has been observed by ESA's Mars orbiters, providing a rare glimpse into the makeup and origins of this distant object.
Between October 1 and 7, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and Mars Express spacecraft tracked the comet as it passed near Mars, capturing its glowing coma as it was heated by the Sun.
This event also highlights the importance of future missions, such as the Comet Interceptor, designed to study these elusive visitors.
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Author's summary: ESA's Mars orbiters observe rare interstellar comet.