
An interstellar visitor lights up the Red Planet’s sky
Between October 1 and 7, ESA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and Mars Express spacecraft turned their instruments toward interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it passed near Mars. Of all ESA spacecraft, the two Mars orbiters had the best view of this rare visitor. During its closest approach to the Red Planet on October 3, the…