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Scientists Refine Path of Interstellar Comet by Tenfold
ESA’s Mars orbiter improved tracking of comet 3I/ATLAS’s trajectory by a factor of 10, enhancing future planetary defense and scientific observations of this rare interstellar visitor.
- A tenfold trajectory refinement of 3I/ATLAS came from ESA's ExoMars TGO between October 1 and 7, 2025, with data accepted by the Minor Planet Center.
- Until September 2025, astronomers relied chiefly on Earth-based observatories, but ground-based telescopes limited precise tracking, so using Mars observations enabled triangulation and improved ephemeris calculations.
- Repurposing CaSSIS, the ExoMars TGO team captured the comet's coma on Oct. 3 during its closest approach at about 29 million kilometres, though the nucleus remained unresolved.
- Astronomers can now point instruments more precisely thanks to the new orbit, enabling detailed study of the third confirmed interstellar object and serving as a planetary‑defence rehearsal for ESA's capabilities.
- The European Space Agency's JUICE observed 3I/ATLAS from Nov. 2 until Nov. 19, but its data won't be available until February 2026, before the Dec. 19, 2025 Earth approach.
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Mars orbiter narrows down the exact path of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS by 'ten-fold,' surprising scientists
Scientists from the European Space Agency have significantly narrowed down the trajectory of the interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS thanks to data from the alien comet's recent flyby of Mars, allowing for more accurate future observations.
·United States
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Mars spacecraft images pinpoint comet 3I/ATLAS's path with 10x higher accuracy. This could help us protect Earth someday
The path of interstellar invader comet 3I/ATLAS has been predicted with 10 times the previous accuracy, thanks to the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter orbiting Mars. This is good news for planetary defense.
·United States
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Total News Sources18
Leaning Left1Leaning Right1Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution72% Center
Bias Distribution
- 72% of the sources are Center
72% Center
14%
C 72%
14%
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