Did NASA's Perseverance Mars rover just see interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS in the Martian night sky?

image via Space.com

October 6, 2025, 5:37 PM

• •Perseverance captured an image of a streak of light potentially linked to interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS.
• •The image's appearance has led to speculation, but scientists attribute it to image processing.
• •The U.S. government shutdown affects NASA's ability to confirm the findings and its observation plans.
• •Comet 3I/ATLAS made its closest approach to Mars on October 3rd.

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover possibly captured an image of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS streaking across the Martian sky. The image, taken by the Right Navigation Camera, coincides with the comet's closest approach to Mars. While some social media users speculated about an alien spacecraft, scientists attribute the cylindrical appearance to the image's processing. The ongoing U.S. government shutdown affects NASA's ability to confirm the findings and its observation plans.

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