In March 2026, the interstellar comet 31/ATLAS will pass within about 33.3 million miles of Jupiter. Astronomers describe this encounter as a once-in-a-generation natural experiment.
The immense gravity and intense particle environment of Jupiter’s magnetosphere will allow scientists to observe how an interstellar comet responds to conditions unlike anything it has encountered before, potentially reshaping current models of comet physics and planetary system formation.
31/ATLAS and the Mystery of the Anti-Tail: Scientists Probe a New Interstellar Anomaly – USA Herald
A Rare Interstellar Visitor Meets the Giant Planet Jupiter
Only three interstellar objects have ever been confirmed inside our solar system, making 31/ATLAS exceptionally rare. Discovered on July 1, 2025, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Chile, the comet is traveling at more than 130,000 miles per hour on a hyperbolic trajectory that guarantees it will never return.
Its close approach to Jupiter offers a unique opportunity to study how such objects react to strong gravitational perturbations. Researchers expect that Jupiter’s influence could subtly alter the structure of the comet’s coma or even its rotation, providing direct observational evidence of how giant planets may shape interstellar visitors.
Juno and Other Observatories Watch 31/ATLAS Approach Jupiter
NASA’s Juno spacecraft, currently orbiting Jupiter, is equipped with instruments capable of capturing detailed data on the morphology of 31/ATLAS’s coma during the flyby. Combined with observations from Earth-based telescopes and space missions, scientists hope to track any gravitational or magnetic effects exerted by Jupiter.
