Jupiter Mission Captures Rare Shot of Interstellar Comet 3I/Atlas on Its Way Out
Summary
The JUICE mission successfully captured stunning images of Comet 3I/Atlas following its closest encounter with the Sun, showcasing the spacecraft's resilience and advancing our understanding of these celestial bodies.
Key Insights
What is an interstellar comet, and why is 3I/ATLAS significant?
An interstellar comet is a comet originating from outside our solar system, not bound by the Sun's gravity. 3I/ATLAS is only the third confirmed interstellar object, discovered on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS telescope, following 1I/'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov, providing rare insights into other star systems.[1][3][7]
What is the JUICE mission, and how did it capture images of Comet 3I/ATLAS?
JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) is an ESA spacecraft launched to study Jupiter and its icy moons, arriving in 2031. It captured images of 3I/ATLAS using its JANUS science camera on November 6, 2025, from 66 million km away, shortly after the comet's perihelion on October 30, 2025, revealing a coma, tail, jets, and dust/gas activity; over 120 images were taken.[1][3][4]