NASA exoplanet probe tracks interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS to gauge its spin

NASA exoplanet probe tracks interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS to gauge its spin

NASA's planet-hunting TESS spacecraft recently observed comet 3I/ATLAS on its way out of the solar system. The data will help scientists study the comet's spin.

TESS Observes Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

During a special observation run earlier this month, NASA’s TESS space telescope recorded the interstellar comet’s subtle glow and tail, adding to archived observations that may reveal clues about this rare visitor from beyond our Solar System. The post TESS Observes Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.

NASA’s TESS Captures First Images of Rare Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite has captured rare images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, only the third such object ever detected. Observations from January 2026 reveal the comet rotates every 15 hours and produces sunlight-driven jets, behaving much like Solar System comets. Scientists say studying 3I/ATLAS may unlock clues about the composition and evolution of distant planetary systems across galaxies beyond our own Milky Way and…