NASA shares new photos of rare interstellar comet 3I/Atlas

NASA has released new pictures and updates about comet 3I/Atlas, a rare object currently moving through our solar system. What makes this comet special is that it did not originate in our solar system — it likely came from another star. Only two other interstellar objects have ever been spotted, making this a unique opportunity for scientists.

Because 3I/Atlas is so rare, NASA is using multiple spacecraft and telescopes to study it. Since its discovery on July 1, 2025, twelve NASA missions have already photographed the comet, and more will follow as it continues its journey through space. Studying it from different angles helps scientists see how it differs from comets that formed around our Sun.

Closest Views from Mars Missions

Some of the closest images were taken by NASA missions near Mars. The comet passed by Mars at about 19 million miles this fall. Three NASA missions captured it clearly:

• Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) took one of the closest shots.

• MAVEN orbiter captured ultraviolet images to reveal what the comet is made of.

• Perseverance rover even caught a faint view from the surface of Mars.

These pictures help scientists study the comet’s shape, color, and composition.

Observations Near the Sun

Some NASA missions focus on studying objects close to the Sun, where normal telescopes cannot look. These missions tracked 3I/Atlas when it passed behind the Sun from Earth’s view:

• STEREO mission observed it from Sept. 11 to Oct. 2.

• SOHO mission (NASA and ESA) watched it from Oct. 15 to Oct. 26.

• PUNCH mission captured the comet’s tail from Sept. 20 to Oct. 3.

This is the first time these Sun-focused missions have studied an interstellar object.

Asteroid Missions Also Spotted the Comet

Two NASA missions studying asteroids, Psyche and Lucy, also took photos of 3I/Atlas while traveling through space:

• Psyche captured four images on Sept. 8–9 from 33 million miles away.

• Lucy photographed it on Sept. 16 from 240 million miles away.

These pictures help scientists understand the comet’s tail, gas cloud, and path.

Discovery and Upcoming Flyby

Comet 3I/Atlas was first discovered by the NASA-funded ATLAS telescope in Chile on July 1, 2025. Later, Hubble, James Webb, and SPHEREx missions also photographed it.

The comet will pass closest to Earth on Dec. 19, at about 170 million miles, and NASA will continue observing it as it moves past Jupiter’s orbit in spring 2026.

Read More: NASA’s alleged 3I/Atlas leak and Japan’s viral sky photo trend worldwide