This rare event offers a unique opportunity to directly study an object from another star system, potentially revealing its composition and solving observed anomalies. (Image: Ref.)
In a stunning cosmic coincidence, two distant spacecraft are on a path that will bring them extremely close to the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. According to a new study, NASA’s Europa Clipper and the European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft could potentially fly through the comet’s tail in late October, providing an unprecedented chance to study an object from another star system up close.
This event's focal point is the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, which came from outside our solar system. It was first discovered on July 1 of this year and has been traveling through our cosmic neighborhood. In early October, the comet flew by Mars, allowing orbiters like the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and Mars Express to capture observations. As it continues its journey, it is now heading closer to the Sun, with its closest approach, or perihelion, expected on October 29.
Also Read: Who is Lydia Kaiser? The 12-Year-Old Shot in the Head at Annunciation Catholic School
The two spacecraft set for this unexpected rendezvous are not even at their destinations yet. NASA’s Europa Clipper is en route to study Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, while ESA’s Hera is traveling toward the binary asteroid system Didymos and Dimorphos. Despite their different final targets, their trajectories through the solar system are now perfectly aligned for a unique encounter. A paper accepted for publication in Research Notes of the AAS details how their paths might take them directly through the comet's tail.
The encounters are timed with the comet's peak activity as it nears the Sun. The ESA's Hera spacecraft will be the first to interact, potentially passing through the comet's ion tail between October 25 and November 1. Shortly after, NASA’s Europa Clipper will have its own encounter between October 30 and November 6. The authors of the study note that “Europa Clipper has a rare opportunity to sample an interstellar object’s tail,” highlighting the scientific value of this chance event.
Beyond these two spacecraft, a third eye in the sky will be watching. The European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) will also monitor 3I/ATLAS in November. This is a critical observation window because the comet will not be visible from Earth at that time, as it will be on the other side of the Sun. However, data from JUICE will not be relayed back to Earth until February of next year due to the limitations of its data transmission equipment.
Also Read: Are Spy Balloons Back? Government Links and Spy Fears Haunt Arizona, Colorado Residents
This series of encounters represents a monumental opportunity for astrophysics. As Europa Clipper and Hera travel through its tail, they gather information that may help unravel these riddles. In order to conduct our first direct examination of the composition of an interstellar comet, the spacecraft will directly sample the particles and gases in the comet's tail. This will provide hints regarding the components of planetary systems that orbit other stars.
