Comet Siding Spring, will pass within about 87,000 miles (139,500 kilometers) of the red planet Researchershope to capture first image of a comet from another planet Will provide an unprecedented opportunity for researchers to gather data Siding Spring comes from the Oort Cloud, material left over from the formation of the solar system Spacecraft will collect in a 'duck and cover' move to avoid hitting comet

By Mark Prigg for MailOnline

Published: 19:07 EST, 17 October 2014 | Updated: 06:23 EST, 18 October 2014

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Nasa is making final preparations for a once-in-a-million-years journey as a comet grazes the atmosphere of Mars on Sunday.

Comet C/2013 A1, also known as comet Siding Spring, will pass within about 87,000 miles (139,500 kilometers) of the Red Planet on Sunday - less than half the distance between Earth and our moon, and less than one-tenth the distance of any known comet flyby of Earth.

Researchers say it will provide an unprecedented opportunity to gather data on both the comet and its effect on the Martian atmosphere.

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