European Space Agency Captures Detailed Image of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS The European Space Agency has released a new image of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, captured by its Juice spacecraft as it traveled toward Jupiter. The image shows the comet near the Sun, where it was ejecting dust and gas, revealing a bright halo of gas surrounding its nucleus, known as the coma. A long tail is also visible, along with jets, streams, and filaments emanating from the comet. The image was taken by the Juice spacecraft’s science camera, JANUS, on November 6, 2025, seven days after the comet passed its closest point to the Sun. At the time, Juice was approximately 66 million kilometers away from the comet. This marks the second image of 3I/ATLAS captured by Juice, following a previous one taken with its Navigation Camera in November 2025. The new image, however, allows scientists to study the comet’s structure in greater detail. 3I/ATLAS, discovered on July 1, 2025, is one of only three interstellar comets ever identified. It is believed to be the oldest comet ever found, potentially older than the Sun itself. Formed in another part of the galaxy, it is passing through the Solar System as part of its journey. Scientists suggest it may originate from a region beyond our Solar System, making it a rare object for study. Juice’s mission to Jupiter includes investigating the icy moons of the gas giant, which are thought to harbor subsurface oceans and could be potential habitats for life. The spacecraft used five science instruments—JANUS, MAJIS, SWI, PEP, and UVS—to analyze 3I/ATLAS during November 2025. These tools collected data on the comet’s composition, behavior, and interactions with solar radiation.#3i_atlas #european_space_agency #juice_spacecraft #janus_camera #jupiter_mission
