China's Tianwen 1 Mars Probe Captures Comet Images

China's Tianwen 1 Mars orbiter has successfully captured images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS during its close approach to Mars in early October 2025. This comet is notable as it is only the third confirmed interstellar object to enter our solar system, following 'Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019.

The images were taken between October 1st and 4th, with a standout photo captured on October 3rd. The China National Space Administration, or CNSA, has announced that these images contribute to global efforts to study this rare celestial visitor.

Space agencies worldwide, including the European Space Agency and NASA, have redirected their Mars missions to observe 3I/ATLAS as it speeds by Earth at an impressive velocity of 129,800 miles per hour.

The Tianwen 1 spacecraft utilized its High-Resolution Imaging Camera, or HiRIC, to capture these images. Although slightly lower in resolution than NASA's HiRISE, the camera faced significant challenges, shifting from imaging the bright Martian surface to tracking a faint comet from nearly 18 million miles away.

CNSA reported that the data acquired has been processed and displayed via a ground-based application system, revealing the comet's nucleus and its surrounding coma, which has a diameter extending to several thousand kilometers.

The comet imaging project is seen as an essential extension of the Tianwen 1 mission, allowing for valuable technical tests and experience accumulation in preparation for China's upcoming deep-space exploration endeavors, specifically the Tianwen 2 mission, which has already launched towards a near-Earth asteroid.

Launched in July 2020, Tianwen 1 entered Martian orbit in February 2021, with its Zhurong rover landing successfully in May 2021, where it operated on the Martian surface for about one Earth year. This latest imaging success underscores China's growing capabilities in space exploration, marking a significant milestone for its planetary exploration initiatives.