ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos|1 minute read
Astronomers Get a Front-Row Seat to Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Zooming Past Mars
TL;DR
In a cosmic spectacle, astronomers have caught a rare glimpse of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS flying past Mars. This event offers a unique opportunity to study an object from outside our solar system, shedding light on its origins and structure.
- What’s the Buzz? 3I/ATLAS is believed to be a time capsule from the early universe, with age estimates around 10 billion years.
- Why It Matters: The comet’s close encounter with Mars allows for observations that could reveal secrets about the formation of solar systems.
- Who's Watching? Both NASA and the European Space Agency are actively monitoring the comet's trajectory and characteristics.
Ready to dive deeper? Here’s the full scoop.