NASA has released high-resolution images of interstellar comet 3I/Atlas (formerly C/2024 S1). The comet is making a “brief visit” to our solar system.
It is only the third confirmed interstellar object to visit our system. Last month, the comet passed Mars safely.
NASA spacecraft operating on and around the surface of the Red Planet have been taking close looks at the comet. It came within about 18 million miles (29 million kilometers) of Mars, revealing a faint white ball. Observations were also made by two European Space Agency satellites orbiting Mars.
Other NASA spacecraft, including the James Webb Space Telescope, will continue to study the comet in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, astronomers are tracking the comet with ground-based telescopes. It is now about 307 million kilometers from Earth.
The comet is visible in the predawn sky from Earth with binoculars or a telescope.
“Anyone with a telescope wants to see it because it is a unique and scarce opportunity,” said Sean Domagal-Goldman, NASA’s interim administrator for astrophysics.
