Comet near Mars on sight

The US Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has deployed a plan to observe a comet as it passes by Mars in October this year, about 10 times closer than any comet has ever come close. Earth.

Comet C / 2013 A1 Siding Spring will have the closest approach so far for Mars, only about 138,000 km from the red planet surface on October 19, according to NASA published information on the official website. .

The cycle of approaching Mars of comet Sliding Spring.(Photo: NASA / JPL)

At that time, the orbits of Mars were more likely to see the comet core while it passed, but at the same time the dust emitted from the comet core could also threaten cruise ships.

It is difficult to determine the level of risk within a few months, but NASA has considered precautions while preparing to study comets at close range.

'The plan to use the spacecraft on Mars to observe the comet Siding Spring will be coordinated with shielding plans for the spacecraft, if forced into a forced situation' , Space.com quoted Rich Zurek, chief the Mars exploration program group of NASA's Dynamics Laboratory in Pasadena.

The comet above was discovered on January 3, 2013, by the Siding Spring Observatory in Australia.

The distance between the comet and Mars may be closer than one third of the Earth's - moon's distance.