NASA’s Europa Clipper Could Fly Through Comet Tail, Providing Unique Look at Interstellar Material
NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft, currently en route to study Jupiter’s icy moon Europa, may have a rare opportunity to pass through the tail of an interstellar comet. Between October 30 and November 6, the spacecraft is expected to encounter a stream of charged particles emitted by comet 3I/ATLAS, a visitor from another star system that has been traveling through the solar system for over a year. If the timing aligns, this could allow scientists to study interstellar material directly, without the need to launch a dedicated mission to chase the comet. Devamını Oku