China’s Tianwen-1 Mars orbiter has captured images of the rare interstellar object 3I/ATLAS from about 30 million kilometres away, marking the first time a Chinese spacecraft has observed an interstellar object.
China’s Tianwen-1 Mars probe’s orbiter has captured images of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS with its high-resolution camera, marking the first time a Chinese spacecraft has observed an interstellar object, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced recently, according to HKCNA.
During the observation, Tianwen-1 was about 30 million kilometres away from the target, making it one of the closest spacecraft to observe this distant visitor.
A Rare Interstellar Traveller
3I/ATLAS was first discovered on July 1st, 2025, by a sky-survey telescope in Chile. It is the third known interstellar object to enter our solar system, following ‘Oumuamua and comet Borisov. Scientists believe it travels on a hyperbolic orbit, passing briefly through the solar system before continuing its journey into deep space.
Researchers estimate that ATLAS may have formed around ancient stars near the Milky Way’s centre, between 3 and 11 billion years ago—possibly even older than the solar system itself. The object provides a valuable sample for studying the composition of exoplanetary materials, stellar evolution, and the early history of the universe, according to the CNSA.
Pushing Tianwen-1 Beyond Its Limits
The high-resolution camera aboard Tianwen-1 was originally built to image the bright Martian surface, not dim, distant objects. Even so, the mission team ran precise calculations and multiple simulations to make the observation possible.
ATLAS appeared 10,000 to 100,000 times dimmer than Mars, presenting a major challenge. The captured images show its comet-like features, including a nucleus about 5.6 kilometres across and a coma stretching several thousand kilometres. To illustrate its rapid motion, researchers also created a short animation using 30-second consecutive exposures.
This was no easy task. ATLAS was moving at about 58 kilometres per second, and its relative speed to the orbiter reached 86 kilometres per second. The Tianwen-1 team began preparations in early September, carefully adjusting pointing control and imaging strategies. Their efforts paid off with a successful observation that pushed the orbiter’s capabilities to new limits.
The CNSA noted that this achievement demonstrates China’s growing ability to detect faint and distant celestial objects. It also provides valuable experience for the upcoming Tianwen-2 asteroid mission, which will further expand China’s presence in deep-space exploration.
Since entering Mars orbit in February 2021, Tianwen-1 has been operating steadily for four years and eight months, continuing to extend the frontier of China’s planetary exploration.
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