Interstellar Comet to Make Closest Approach to Mars โFriday, Observed by International Fleet โขof Spacecraft
A comet originating from outside our solar system will make its closest approach to โMars on Friday, passing within 18 millionโข miles (29 million kilometers) of the red โplanet. The event isโ drawing the โฃattention of multiple spacecraft orbiting adn stationed on Mars, as well as those en route to other destinations, offering a rare prospect to study a visitorโฃ from another star system.
Known as 3I/Atlas, this is only theโฃ third confirmed interstellar object โdetected โpassing through our solar system. Its flyby provides scientists with aโ unique chance to analyze the composition and behavior of material โnot formedโค within our sun’s โorbit, possibly revealing โฃclues about the โขformation of planetary systems beyond โour โคown. The โcomet is traveling at aโค remarkable 193,000 mph (310,000 kph) and will โฃreach its closest point to the sun at the end of October,before makingโค its โclosest โฃapproach to Earth in Decemberโฃ at 167 million miles (269 million kilometers).
Discoveredโ in July,3I/Atlas poses no threat to earth or โany planets. Both of the european Space agency’s (ESA) Mars-orbiting satellites are currently focused on observingโ the comet,โฃ and NASA’s assets at Mars are also contributing โto the data collection. ESA’s Juice spacecraft, currently traveling to Jupiter and its moons, will continue monitoring โฃthe comet throughout November.โ
Observations from the Hubble Space Telescope estimate the comet’s nucleus toโ be no largerโ than 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) in โฃdiameter, โคand potentially as small as 1,444 feet (440 meters) across.The data gathered from this interstellar visitor will help astronomers better โขunderstand the โprevalence and characteristics of objects ejected fromโฃ other star systems.