ESA’s Jupiter Icy Satellite Explorer (JUICE) has unveiled new images of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS captured by the JANUS scientific camera.
This striking image of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS was taken by the JANUS camera aboard ESA’s JUICE spacecraft on November 6, 2025, just seven days post the comet’s closest approach to the Sun. At this juncture, JUICE was approximately 66 million kilometers (41 million miles) from the comet. The inset image enhances the coma structure, with the arrow indicating the comet’s movement direction (blue) and its trajectory relative to the Sun (yellow). Image credit: ESA / Juice / JANUS.
The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS was first identified on July 1, 2025, by the NASA-funded ATLAS survey telescope located in Rio Hurtado, Chile.
This remarkable comet, also known as C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) and A11pl3Z, appears to have entered our solar system from the constellation Sagittarius.
3I/ATLAS boasts the most dynamically extreme orbit ever recorded in the solar system, underscoring its interstellar origin and exceptional speed.
On October 30, 2025, the comet achieved its closest perihelion to the Sun, reaching within 1.4 astronomical units (210 million kilometers, or 130.5 million miles)—just inside Mars’ orbital path.
Throughout November 2025, the JUICE spacecraft meticulously observed 3I/ATLAS utilizing five scientific instruments: JANUS, MAJIS, SWI, PEP, and UVS.
These instruments collectively gathered crucial information on the comet’s behavior and composition.
“For several months post observation, JUICE was positioned on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth,” noted members of the JUICE team.
“We utilized the main high-gain antenna as a heat shield, while the smaller medium-gain antenna transmitted data back to Earth at a reduced rate.”
“Consequently, we had to wait until last week to receive the data,” they elaborated.
“Currently, we are diligently analyzing these findings.”
The JANUS camera successfully captured over 120 images of 3I/ATLAS across a broad range of wavelengths.
Researchers are actively studying these images to enhance their understanding of the comet.
Additionally, they are examining spectroscopic data as well as information regarding the comet’s composition and particle characteristics.
“[The latest JANUS image] reveals a jet emerging from the core of 3I/ATLAS, directed away from the Sun,” stated Professor Avi Loeb of Harvard University in his analysis.
“This observation is intriguing because jets are typically formed from pockets of ice on the surface that get heated by sunlight on the day side, creating jets that originally travel toward the Sun.”
“It’s comparable to images captured by amateur astronomers globally during the same period.”
Source: www.sci.news
