Interstellar Comet to Make Closest Approach to Mars in October
An interstellar comet, designated 3I/ATLAS, is poised for an exceptionally close approach to Mars on October 3rd, offering scientists a rare prospect to study a celestial body originating from outside our solar system. The comet’s hyperbolic trajectory confirms its interstellar origin, marking it as the third confirmed visitor from beyond our cosmic neighborhood.
This flyby is meaningful becuase it allows for direct observation of a comet formed in a vastly different stellar environment than those within our solar system. At its closest, 3I/ATLAS will be approximately 29 million kilometers from mars - a distance close enough for detailed study by probes like Mars Express adn ExoMars, as well as ground and space-based telescopes. The unique composition of 3I/ATLAS, notably its high concentration of carbon dioxide compared to water, suggests formation in extremely cold regions far from its parent star.
Traveling at nearly 200 thousand kilometers per hour,3I/ATLAS’s core is estimated to be between a few hundred meters and up to five kilometers in diameter,enveloped in a coma of dust and gases.Initial observations have revealed reflected light behavior unlike any known comet or asteroid, further highlighting its unusual nature.
Following its Martian encounter, the comet will approach the sun at the end of October and reach its minimum distance from Earth – approximately 270 million kilometers – in December. In early 2026, it will pass near Jupiter before continuing its journey back into interstellar space. Each observation promises to expand our understanding of planet and solar system formation across the galaxy.
