The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has reported the launch of a unique observation campaign for the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, involving more than ten spacecraft. “NASA is in the midst of an unprecedented campaign to observe the Solar System, directing its spacecraft and telescopes to track comet 3I/ATLAS,” the agency’s website stated.
According to NASA, more than a dozen spacecraft have already managed to capture and process initial images of this unusual visitor. In the coming weeks, additional stations will join in to document changes as the comet progresses through the inner regions of our system. This approach allows for a comparison of the chemical composition and behavior of 3I/ATLAS with typical comets formed within the Solar System, offering a better understanding of how the composition of other planetary systems might differ from our own.
3I/ATLAS has become only the third interstellar object detected by astronomers. Previously, attention was drawn to the asteroid “Oumuamua” in 2017 and comet 2I/Borisov, discovered in 2019 by Russian astronomer Gennady Borisov. A recent press conference saw NASA representatives releasing new images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS.
