NASA dey share amazing new images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS! E be like say a whole squad of spacecraft team up to capture dis rare visitor from outside our solar system. Imagine, di comet dey zoom past Mars, and all di NASA missions wey dey explore di red planet stop wetin dem dey do to snap pictures! Dis be like once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Wetin make dis comet special?
Dem first spot 3I/ATLAS for July 1st. E be only di third interstellar object wey dem don see wey come from outside our solar system dey pass through here. Scientists dey excited because e go help dem learn more about wetin dey outside our own space neighbourhood.
How dem take capture di images?
NASA use different spacecraft, including di Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and di Lucy spacecraft, to snap di comet. Even di Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory spacecraft join di fun! Each spacecraft get different angle, so e be like everybody dey try take picture of di same ball for baseball game, but nobody get perfect view.
- Di Lucy spacecraft even capture faint halo of gas and dust wey surround di comet.
- Dem stack images wey di Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory spacecraft take, show say di comet dey speed at 130,000 miles per hour!
Wetin next for 3I/ATLAS?
Di comet go make e closest approach to Earth on December 19th, wey be about 170 million miles away. NASA spacecraft go continue to track am as e dey move through di solar system, and e go cross Jupiter's orbit for spring 2026. So, keep your eyes open, you fit see am with binoculars or telescope before e waka go!
Shawn Domagal-Goldman, NASA acting astrophysics director, talk say: "Everyone that is in control of a telescope wants to look at it because it's a fascinating and rare opportunity."