China’s Tianwen-1 captures interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS near Mars
China's Tianwen-1 orbiter has successfully captured high-resolution images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it passed near Mars. The data confirms the object's cometary nature and provides valuable experience for future Chinese deep-space exploration missions.
Why it matters
Observing interstellar objects provides rare insights into the composition of other solar systems and demonstrates advancements in deep-space imaging capabilities.
China's Tianwen-1 spacecraft has photographed the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS as it passed near Mars. According to the China National Space Agency (CNSA), the orbiter used its high-resolution camera to capture the comet from about 30 million km (18.6 million mi) away.
Tianwen-1 has been orbiting Mars for four years and eight months, making it one of the closest spacecraft to observe the interstellar object since its discovery (on May 7 th , 2025).
Tianwen-1 Reveals the Comet's Tail and Coma
The new images show several features that support the conclusion that 3I/ATLAS is a comet. A visible tail extends behind the object, while a cloud of gas and dust (coma) surrounds its nucleus.
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