A significant astronomical event has occurred with the observation of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, a rare visitor from another star system, traveling at a phenomenal 130,000 mph. A coordinated effort by NASA and ISRO has yielded unprecedented data on this celestial traveler, the third confirmed interstellar object encountered. Observations were made from India’s Mount Abu Observatory and a range of NASA assets, including Mars orbiters and deep-space missions.
During its transit near Mars, NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured striking images of the comet’s developing coma, revealing the effects of solar heating on its nucleus. This provided exceptional detail of the interstellar object.
Further analysis by NASA’s MAVEN orbiter revealed the presence of a hydrogen halo, indicating the sublimation of water-ice. This finding strongly supports the hypothesis that 3I/ATLAS contains water originating from an entirely different stellar environment.
From the Martian surface, NASA’s Perseverance rover also detected the comet, adding a unique perspective from the ground. NASA’s solar observation spacecraft contributed by unveiling faint structures within the comet’s tail, which are sculpted by the solar wind.
Data from NASA’s Psyche and Lucy missions played a vital role in refining estimates of the comet’s orbit and trajectory. Back on Earth, ISRO’s Mount Abu telescope delivered detailed optical images and spectral analysis, confirming the comet’s active nature.
The scientific value of 3I/ATLAS is immense. It offers a rare window into the composition and formation processes of planets in other solar systems, allows for comparisons of chemical signatures across galactic environments, and helps refine our understanding of how objects traverse interstellar space. Despite its rapid passage, the observations will yield long-lasting scientific insights.