European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) Captures Images of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS The European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) recently captured new images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, which made a brief appearance in our solar system in late 2025. These images, transmitted from the spacecraft’s distant vantage point, provide a rare glimpse into the comet’s fleeting journey through our cosmic neighborhood. The comet, first detected in July 2025 as the third known object originating outside our solar system, has become a subject of intense scientific interest due to its unusual origin and trajectory. NASA officials and scientists have consistently emphasized that 3I/ATLAS is not extraterrestrial in nature but rather a naturally occurring celestial body that formed elsewhere in the galaxy. However, its unique path and composition have sparked fascination among astronomers. The comet’s brief visit to our solar system has allowed researchers to study planetary material that formed under different stellar conditions, offering insights into the diversity of objects in the universe. The Juice orbiter, en route to Jupiter, observed 3I/ATLAS between November 2 and November 25, 2025, during a period when the comet was in a highly active state. This activity followed its closest approach to the sun on October 30, 2025, which likely triggered the release of gas and dust. Due to the spacecraft’s position on the opposite side of the sun from Earth, scientists did not receive the data until February 2026. The first images released by the European Space Agency in late February showed the comet spewing gas and dust from a distance of 41 million miles, with a bright coma and a long tail visible.#nasa #3i_atlas #european_space_agency #jupiter_icy_moons_explorer #jet_propulsion_laboratory
