Tianwen-1 Captures Rare Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS
Chinese Spacecraft Captures Rare Interstellar Comet
China’s Tianwen-1 orbiter, positioned around Mars, has sent back a fascinating GIF showing the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS moving across the sky. This comet, discovered in July 2025, is only the third known interstellar object to pass through our Solar System, traveling at an extraordinary speed of about 58 kilometers per second. The images mark a significant achievement as Tianwen-1’s camera, originally designed for Mars observations, was pushed to its limits to capture such a faint and distant target nearly 30 million kilometers away.
Scientific Importance of 3I/ATLAS Observations
3I/ATLAS is thought to be around 10 billion years old, potentially older than our Solar System, making it a valuable time capsule from the ancient galaxy. Studying its composition and trajectory provides insights into the early universe and interstellar environments. Tianwen-1’s successful imaging complements observations by other Mars orbiters and highlights international efforts to understand these rare visitors from beyond our star system.
