Voyager Just Caught 3I/ATLAS Moving In Space & It's Not Alone

 

Picture Voyager — the old interstellar probe sent in 1977 — catching a glimpse of a comet from another star system streaking through the cosmos. Although this might sound like science fiction, actual findings of interstellar bodies like 3I/ATLAS have intrigued astronomers, and there are times when speculations reach for sensational assertions. Let's penetrate what's factual, what's imagination, and if there is a chance Voyager might ever be able to see such a guest.

Voyager in the Void: A Brief Status Report

NASA's Voyager 1 traversed the edge of our solar system — the heliopause — approximately 2012, mankind's first ambassador to interstellar space.

It is equipped with sensitive detectors such as the Plasma Wave Subsystem (PWS), which is capable of detecting oscillations in electron density (i.e. plasma waves) in the local environment.

Voyager 2, likewise, went past the heliopause in 2018.

In the cold dark expanses outside the Sun's reach, these probes keep tabs on cosmic rays, magnetic field turbulence, and plasma waves — but not optical imaging like a telescope.

Since Voyager isn't made to capture high-resolution photos of tiny, fast-moving things passing through the solar neighborhood, the notion of it "catching" a comet such as 3I/ATLAS optically would take remarkable conditions.

Enter 3I/ATLAS: The Newest Interstellar Visitor

What We Do Know

Discovery: 3I/ATLAS was initially spotted on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile.

The "3I" naming makes it the third confirmed interstellar object (following 'Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019).

Observations indicate 3I/ATLAS is acting like a comet: it's showing a coma (gas/dust cloud) and tail as it heats up closing in on the Sun.

It is going to pass within ~18 million miles (~29 million km) of Mars in early October 2025, offering Mars orbiters and instruments a chance to observe it.

3I/ATLAS is likely not alone — that numerous other interstellar objects will transit the solar system as detection methods advance, scientists say now.

The Debrief

The precise size of the nucleus is uncertain — estimates vary from hundreds of meters up to a few kilometers.

Its exact composition, internal structure, and origin system remain open questions.

Will any spacecraft be able to rendezvous or closely image it? Some mission proposals are being discussed.

Could Voyager Actually Detect 3I/ATLAS?

While the headline is dramatic, the reality is more modest:

Distance & brightness: By the time 3I/ATLAS reached the inner solar system, it was still hundreds of millions of kilometers away. Its brightness (sunlight reflected off it) makes it visible to giant telescopes, not distant probes with restricted optics.

Instrument mismatch: Voyager's instruments are designed for broad-field plasma, particle, and electromagnetic observation — not for imaging small, high-speed comets close to the Sun or inside the solar system.

Relative motion & orientation: In order for Voyager (or any deep space probe) to intercept an object, it has to be in the probe's field of view, orientation, and detection range — very unlikely for a speedy interloper such as 3I/ATLAS.

Signal vs noise: Any faint unambiguous signature of a comet flyby (e.g., in plasma perturbations) would be very weak compared to the interstellar noise.

In brief: although Voyager in theory could sense changes in nearby plasma or magnetic fields as a big object moved very close by, the likelihood it "caught" a comet like 3I/ATLAS in a clear, standalone manner is incredibly low.

It's Not Alone: The New Age of Interstellar Object Discovery

Even if Voyager did not literally "catch" 3I/ATLAS, the idea that interstellar objects could be more frequent is gaining traction. Here's why:

New telescopes, new visions: New facilities like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory (now being built) will radically expand our capacity to detect faint, speedy interstellar travelers.

Surprise discoveries in the archives: Actually, earlier images of 3I/ATLAS had been recorded by survey telescopes before its "official" discovery, subsequently identified in hindsight.

Backtracking trajectory: Researchers compare previous interstellar objects ('Oumuamua, Borisov, ATLAS) for patterns of origin, galactic trajectory, and age.

Possible mission opportunities: Some scientists are investigating concepts for missions to intercept or image interstellar comets in flight as they enter the solar neighborhood.

Therefore, the notion of "it's not alone" is an understatement — 3I/ATLAS could be one of a many such visitors, perhaps the lead in a burgeoning catalog.

Conclusion: Fact vs. Narrative

Voyager capturing 3I/ATLAS is a newsflash, but extremely unlikely based on the design and distance of the spacecraft.

3I/ATLAS is real, intriguing, and being watched — an unusual window into material from outside our solar system.

The bigger surprise is that interstellar comets could be more prevalent than we previously believed — and technology in the future will probably introduce many more into our view.