ESA's JUICE Spacecraft Captures Rare Images of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Approaching Jupiter.

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

According to Novyny.live: The European Space Agency has released unique images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it nears Jupiter, captured by the JUICE spacecraft. This rare visitor from beyond our solar system will make its closest approach to the gas giant in mid-March, passing approximately 66 million kilometers away. Observing such interstellar objects provides crucial insights into the composition of material from other star systems.

In November 2025, as the comet passed its perihelion at a distance of 210 million kilometers from the Sun, researchers used the JANUS camera aboard JUICE to record over one hundred frames of 3I/ATLAS.

The JUICE Science Mission

While its primary mission to study Jupiter's moons is scheduled for the 2030s, JUICE is already demonstrating its capabilities. The spacecraft is equipped with a suite of sophisticated scientific instruments, including:

• a near-infrared imaging spectrometer
• an ultraviolet spectrograph
• a sub-millimeter wave instrument
• a neutral atom detector

These tools will enable detailed future study of both the interstellar comet and Jupiter's major moons—Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa.

The close passage of comet 3I/ATLAS near Jupiter represents a significant event for astronomers, offering a unique chance to examine an interstellar object and its interaction with our solar system. The upcoming JUICE mission in the 2030s aims to deepen our understanding of Jupiter's icy moons, which are considered prime targets in the search for extraterrestrial life. Studying both comets and planetary satellites helps scientists better comprehend the evolution of our solar system and universal cosmic processes.