A colossal mountain sized comet will zip by Mars this month and NASA will use its fleet of Martian space rovers and satellites to observe this unique phenomenon.

The comet called Siding Spring will pass within 87,000 miles of Mars, which is closer than the distance from the Earth to the moon (256,000 miles). It fly by Mars on October 19 around 2:27 P.M. EDT at speeds of around 126,000 miles per hour.

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Originally called comet C/2013 A1 Siding Spring was first observed by astronomer Rob McNaught at the Siding Spring Observatory in Australia in January 2013. Described as a huge mountain of a comet, the comet has a nucleus estimated to be miles wide. A gas cloud shrouds its head and extends out to some 12,000 miles behind the comet.

The comet originally travelled from the Oort Cloud about 50,000 Astronomical Units from the Sun. The Oort Cloud consistsof icy material believed to be ancient relics from the early stages of the solar system.

NASA also confirms this comet is so close to Mars it's closer than any comet that has ever flown by by Earth. Scientists will grab the opportunity to observe and gather data about Siding Spring since the comet could possibly have an effect on the Martian atmosphere.

This comet is an extremely rare phenomenon, said NASA Science Mission Directorate associate administrator John Grunsfeld. This is the first time this comet will enter the solar system.

NASA will use all its spacecraft orbiting Mars; its rovers on Mars' surface and its advanced instruments on Martian terrain to gather as much data and capture images of Siding Springs. Additional observations will also be carried out from Earth.

Since it's worried the comet's dusty tail will damage its Martian satellites, the space agency will change the orbits of its satellites to keep them out of harm's way.

TagsNASA Prepares for Colossal Mountain Sized Comet Approach on Mars, NASA, comet siding spring, Mars, comet mars mountain size NASA