By 
November 6th, 2025
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China’s Mars orbiter has snagged images of that interstellar interloper – 31/Atlas – making use of its high-resolution camera, reports the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
During the observation, states China Central Television (CCTV), the Mars orbiter was about 30 million kilometers from 3I/ATLAS, making it one of the closest observations by a probe of this interstellar object.
China’s Tianwen-1 mission, consisting of an orbiter, a lander and a rover, was launched in July 2020. The probe entered Mars’ orbit in February 2021 and has been operating in a stable condition for roughly four years and eight months, CCTV adds.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Consecutive images
“From Oct 1 to 4, Tianwen-1 captured images each day and sent the data back to the ground. Using these consecutive images, we were able to create an animation that effectively shows its [3I/Atlas] flight path,” said Liu Jianjun, chief designer of the ground application system for China’s first Mars exploration mission.
This successful observation represents an extended mission task for Tianwen-1.
On patrol – NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO).
Image credit: NASA/JPL
“The Tianwen-1 team began preparing for the observation in early September,” CCTV reports. “After repeated simulations and feasibility assessments, they determined to use the high-resolution camera on the orbiter and designed optimal imaging strategies, ultimately achieving successful observation.”
HiRISE imagery?
Another spacecraft circling the Red Planet, the NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, was supposedly tasked to use its powerful HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera system to also acquire imagery of 31/Atlas.
If so, those HiRISE images have yet to be released.
Reportedly, the end of the U.S. government shutdown will allow release of the HiRISE images of 3I/ATLAS.
Meanwhile, to view a CCTV video discussing the Tianwen-1 orbiter’s imagery, go to:
Posted in Space News
