ATLAS comet update you've been waiting for!  ☄️ - video Dailymotion

Watch ATLAS comet update you've been waiting for!  ☄️ - Nasa Space on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00This is the moment a rare interstellar comet made a close approach with Mars.

00:05Comet 3i Atlas is only the third interstellar object spotted in our solar system,

00:11and is flying through at an incredible 210,000 kilometres per hour.

00:17During its quick flight past Mars, the comet came just 30 million kilometres from its surface.

00:23This gave us a unique vantage point to learn more about the object

00:27using our spacecraft ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter.

00:31The comet is now getting closer to the sun.

00:33As it approaches, it will heat up,

00:35releasing gas and dust that will form a bright halo and a long trailing tail.

00:40This marks the peak of its activity and is the best time to study it.

00:45Just after its close approach, our JUICE mission, currently on its way to Jupiter,

00:50will be able to observe the comet shortly after this peak,

00:53hopefully helping us uncover more about this mysterious object.