So, a comet from beyond our solar system, 3I/Atlas, made a pit stop near the Sun, and our trusty Jupiter-bound spacecraft, JUICE, was right there to take some snapshots. I mean, interstellar comets are like cosmic tourists – rare and fascinating!

First spotted back in June 2025, this icy wanderer piqued the interest of astronomers worldwide. You see, these interstellar visitors give us a peek into the stuff that makes up other star systems. Think of it as getting a sample from a celestial kitchen – pretty cool, right?

JUICE, which is on its way to check out Jupiter's icy moons, isn't just sitting around. It's using its instruments to observe other cosmic objects while en route. On November 6, 2025, a week after the comet’s closest encounter with the Sun, JUICE's camera, JANUS, grabbed 120 images of 3I/Atlas. The photos reveal the comet's nucleus surrounded by a bright coma (that's the halo of gas) and its long tail stretching out into space.

However, it wasn't just about pretty pictures. JUICE also gathered a ton of data on the comet. Now, teams at ESA are poring over the information, trying to figure out what this interstellar traveler is made of and how it behaves. I'm really looking forward to hearing what they discover!

It's worth remembering that the JUICE mission is primarily focused on exploring Jupiter's icy moons for potential signs of life. Reaching the Jovian system in 2031, it still has a long journey ahead, but it's definitely making good use of its time, and that is awesome. Who knows what other cosmic surprises it'll encounter along the way?