Key Takeaways:
- 1. The HiRISE camera, originally used to image Mars, captured images of the comet 3I/ATLAS.
- 2. 3I/ATLAS has an eccentric orbit, suggesting it did not originate in our Solar System.
- 3. NASA repurposed various hardware, including the MAVEN mission and Hubble telescope, to study the comet.
The comet 3I/ATLAS, with a highly eccentric orbit, is believed to have come from outside our Solar System. NASA repurposed equipment like the HiRISE camera and MAVEN mission to study it. Data from the Hubble telescope indicates the comet is small and shows minimal variability. The comet may be ejecting material from specific hotspots on its surface.
Insight: NASA's innovative use of existing technology has allowed for detailed study of the comet 3I/ATLAS, shedding light on its unique characteristics and origins beyond our Solar System.
This article was curated by memoment.jp from the feed source: Ars Technica.
Read the original article here: https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/11/nasa-really-wants-you-to-know-that-3i-atlas-is-an-interstellar-comet/
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