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When the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS passed in between ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) spacecraft and NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft in November 2025, researchers took an unique opportunity: one spacecraft captured the comet’s radiant dayside, the other its dirty night side, concurrently.
In November 2025, 3I/ATLAS passed in between ESA’s Juice spacecraft and NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft. Image credit: NASA/ ESA/ Southwest Research Institute.
“As the comet passed in between Juice and Europa Clipper, we had the ability to informally collaborate observations in between the 2 spacecraft,”stated Dr. Kurt Retherford, a planetary scientist at Southwest Research Institute.
“Crucially, we observed hydrogen, oxygen and carbon emissions.”
“These aspects are produced when gases getting away the comet’s nucleus disintegrate into atoms when exposed to sunshine.”
The distinct observations were made with the Ultraviolet Spectrograph (UVS) instruments aboard Juice and Europa Clipper spacecraft.
“Observing the interstellar comet was some amazing reward science,” stated Dr. Philippa Molyneux, likewise from Southwest Research Institute.
“The resulting uncommon and distinct dataset consists of gas emissions and spread dust.”
“This was the very first time we’ve had synchronised direct views of a comet’s coma of leaving gas from 2 instructions.”
“Europa Clipper revealed us the night side of the comet, with a good deal of spread dust, while Juice imaged primarily radiant gas on the day side.”
The scientists discovered greater levels of carbon emissions from 3I/ATLAS than anticipated early on, particularly in contrast to common comets from our Solar System, proving comparable findings through other observations about the interstellar comet’s origin and structure.
Observing the patterns of emissions over a number of days exposed how the ratios of these particles altered and how the comet progressed throughout its journey through our Solar System.
“By studying the ratio of water ice and solidified carbon dioxide, we can compare the structure of this interstellar comet to comets belonging to our Solar System,” Dr. Molyneux stated.
“This assists us comprehend if the Solar System where 3I/ATLAS formed resembles ours or various.”
“I believe the coordination with Europa Clipper was an enjoyable and impactful presentation that demonstrated how the 2 tasks might collaborate observation strategies,” Dr. Retherford stated.
“And due to the fact that SwRI’s group is associated with both objectives, it was an unique emphasize for us in regards to collaborating.”
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