Have you ever wondered what it would be like to see a comet zoom past another planet? Well, brace yourself! NASA’s Perseverance rover has potentially caught a glimpse of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS from the Martian surface, and the implications are as thrilling as they are mind-boggling!

On October 3, 2025, as 3I/ATLAS made its closest approach to Mars, traveling at a breathtaking speed of 137,000 miles per hour, the Perseverance rover and other Mars-based instruments seized the chance to capture what could be some of the clearest images of this cosmic wanderer. This comet, currently veiled from Earth-bound telescopes, has become a hot topic in the astronomical community.

Thanks to a network of cameras situated on Mars, astronomers have the extraordinary opportunity to observe this enigmatic comet up close. The European Space Agency (ESA) is closely monitoring 3I/ATLAS, which has captivated global attention. Some enthusiasts and astrophotographers claim they’ve already identified the first images of the comet as it streaks across Martian skies.

One excited observer, Stefan Burns, tweeted, “Is this 3I/ATLAS?! I created a time-lapse using 9 minutes of images captured by Mars Perseverance on October 2nd, and we clearly observe something traveling very fast across the night sky!” Another astrophotographer, Simeon Schmauß, expressed similar excitement, stating, “I think Perseverance may have spotted interstellar comet 3I/Atlas last night from Mars!” His analysis revealed a faint light in the constellation Corona Borealis, right where the comet was expected to be.

But not everyone is convinced; some Reddit users are adamant that this could be the first photo of 3I/ATLAS taken from Mars. The ESA has its Mars orbiters, including Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, actively tracking 3I/ATLAS from October 1 to October 7, as it passes within 30 million kilometers of our neighboring planet.

After this close encounter, the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) will study the comet between November 2 and 25, just after its closest approach to the Sun, which could reveal the comet in all its glory, complete with a dazzling halo and a long tail.

In the meantime, NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is also gearing up to observe 3I/ATLAS using its powerful HiRISE camera. However, due to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, the release of images captured by NASA’s Mars missions hangs in limbo, creating uncertainty among eager skywatchers.

So, while we await further developments, the excitement surrounding this potential Martian snapshot of 3I/ATLAS continues to grow. Will we unlock more secrets about this elusive comet? Only time will tell!