NASA on Wednesday released new images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS captured by its spacecraft and space telescopes. The comet, first discovered on July 1, is the third known interstellar object to pass through the solar system.
Twelve NASA assets have obtained and processed imagery of the comet since its discovery, and several others are expected to capture additional images as it continues traveling through the solar system, according to NASA.
The closest images so far were taken by NASA's Mars-based spacecraft. Earlier this fall, 3I/ATLAS passed Mars at a distance of about 30 million kilometers and was observed by three spacecraft, including the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Despite having observed and discovered thousands of comets, this marks the first time NASA's heliophysics missions have intentionally studied an object originating outside the solar system.
NASA's Psyche and Lucy spacecraft, currently on their respective outbound journeys to explore asteroid targets, also observed 3I/ATLAS en route. The images they collected will help scientists refine the comet's trajectory and analyze features of its coma and tail, NASA said.
Comet 3I/ATLAS is expected to make its closest approach to Earth around Dec. 19, at a distance of about 270 million kilometers, according to NASA.
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