Close-up pictures show interstellar comet zipping past Mars

Thursday, 20 November 2025 19:53

Three NASA spacecraft on and near the red planet zoomed in on the comet as it passed just 29 million kilometres away, revealing a fuzzy white blob.

NASA has unveiled close-up pictures of the interstellar comet that’s making a quick one-and-done tour of the solar system.

Discovered over the summer, the comet known as 3I/Atlas is only the third confirmed object to visit our corner of the cosmos from another star.

It zipped harmlessly past Mars last month.

This photo provided by Gianluca Masi shows the interstellar comet 3I/Atlas as it streaks through space, 190 million miles from Earth, on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. The image was taken from Manciano, Italy. (Gianluca Masi via AP)

Three NASA spacecraft on and near the red planet zoomed in on the comet as it passed just 29 million kilometres away, revealing a fuzzy white blob.

The European Space Agency's two satellites around Mars also made observations.

Other NASA spacecraft will remain on the lookout in the weeks ahead, including the Webb Space Telescope.

At the same time, astronomers are aiming their ground telescopes at the approaching comet, which is about 307 million kilometres from Earth.

The Virtual Telescope Project's Gianluca Masi zoomed in today from Italy.

The comet is visible from Earth in the predawn sky by using binoculars or a telescope.

“Everyone that is in control of a telescope wants to look at it because it's a fascinating and rare opportunity," NASA acting astrophysics director Shawn Domagal-Goldman said.

The closest the comet will come to Earth is 269 million kilometres in mid-December.

Then it will hightail it back into interstellar space, never to return.

ESA’s Juice spacecraft, bound for Jupiter, has been training its cameras and scientific instruments on the comet all month, particularly after it made its closest pass to the sun.

But scientists won’t get any of these observations back until February because Juice’s main antenna is serving as a heat shield while it’s near the sun, limiting the flow of data.

Named for the telescope in Chile that first spotted it, the comet is believed to be anywhere from 440 metres across to 5.6 kilometres across.

Observations indicate that the exceptionally fast-moving comet may have originated in a star system older than our own, “which gives me goose bumps to think about,” NASA scientist Tom Statler said.

“That means that 3I/Atlas is not just a window into another solar system, it’s a window into the deep past and so deep in the past that it predates even the formation of our Earth and our sun," Statler told reporters.

NASA officials were quick to dispel rumors that this friendly solar system visitor, as they called it, might be an alien ship of some sort.

They said that because of the federal government shutdown, they weren't able to respond to all the theories cropping up in recent weeks.

The space agency is always on the hunt for life beyond Earth, "but 3I/Atlas is a comet," said NASA’s associate administrator, Amit Kshatriya.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

More from Latest News

Qantas and Virgin Australia to ban use of power banks on flights

Australia's two biggest airlines will ban the use of power banks on planes following a string of fires believed to have been caused by the devices domestically and overseas.
Prominent neo-Nazi charged over alleged online harassment of federal MP

A prominent neo-Nazi has been charged over the alleged online harassment of a federal MP who condemned his group's anti-Jewish rally on the steps of NSW's Parliament House.
Slain police officer's father shares grief as Wieambilla inquest ends

Exclusive: More than a year on from a harrowing inquest that exposed the scale of the evil that stole their loved ones, tomorrow the agonising wait for answers endured by the families of those killed in the Wieambilla massacre will finally come to a close.
Victorian MP details sexual harassment inside parliament

Georgie Purcell says she was repeatedly sexually harassed and slut-shamed inside the walls of parliament.
SA names joint Senior Australians of the Year after awards night debacle

The community heroes at the centre of a bizarre awards night bungle have today been named joint winners of South Australia's Senior Australian of the Year award.
NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman quits after colleagues turn against him

Speakman said it was now "clear" that his Liberal colleagues want him to step down and for a new leader to take on the "extraordinary difficult" job.
'Obscene': SA premier hits out after missing out on major conference

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has hit out at the "obscene" process for deciding the COP31 host after Australia – and Adelaide – missed out on holding the major climate conference.
Woman hospitalised after being struck by wrench thrown in brawl in Sydney's east

Police understand the 23-year-old woman is not linked to the group involved in the alleged physical altercation.
Liz and Julie didn't plan on giving birth in their late 40s. They say it made them better mums

The median age of a first-time mother has crept up to 32.1 years in Australia for 2024 – up from 29.8 in 2000. These women are the outliers.
When Adam applied for an entry-level job, he found himself up against 6500 others

To Queenslander Adam Kertesz, landing a job has started to feel like winning the lottery, especially when you're up against thousands of applicants for some positions.
Brief reprieve before Cyclone Fina strengthens, heads towards NT coast

The Northern Territory's reprieve from the first cyclone of the season is set to be brief, with Fina set to return to category 2 status, and possibly even category 3, today.
Major discovery proves gigantic sharks roamed Australia's coastlines

The work of Dr Mikael Siversson from the WA Museum helped re-write the timeline for one of the planet's most fearsome predators.
Highly infectious, deadly disease 'likely circulating' in Sydney

More than 10 years after Australia eliminated the illness, someone who hasn't been to an exposure site has somehow become infected.
Aussies are being forced to accept jobs with no clue what they'll be paid

Now hundreds are demanding better from a business worth billions.
One of Australia's biggest customers ditches our biggest export

The industrial powerhouse's decision is bad news for the economy at large.
'Asbestos of the 21st century': Calls to ban chemical Aussies are exposed to every day

The "forever chemicals", are virtually impossible to avoid and are found in most Australian homes.
Warning entire industry critical for Australian economy on the brink of collapse

One in 12 trucking companies have closed amid dire economic conditions.