ATLAS News

Observatories worldwide report a sudden brightness increase in 3i/ATLAS, with magnitude jumping from 3.8 to 2.9 within 48 hours. This unexpected outburst reveals volatile-rich material from deep within the nucleus, providing insights into its interstellar composition.

The interstellar visitor reached its closest point to the Sun today at 0.85 AU, displaying spectacular tail structures extending over 15 degrees across the sky. Ground-based observatories and space telescopes captured unprecedented detail of the comet's coma and dual tail system.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has obtained the first detailed infrared spectrum of 3i/ATLAS, revealing abundant water ice, carbon monoxide, and complex organic molecules. The data confirms the comet's pristine interstellar nature and suggests formation in a cold molecular cloud.

Astrophotographers report a striking green coloration in 3i/ATLAS's coma, caused by diatomic carbon (C₂) molecules fluorescing in sunlight. This phenomenon, combined with the blue ion tail and yellowish dust tail, creates a spectacular tri-colored display visible through medium-sized telescopes.

Using data from multiple observatories, scientists have calculated that 3i/ATLAS's nucleus measures approximately 2.3 km in diameter—larger than initially predicted. The comet's elongated shape and rapid rotation period of 7.3 hours suggest a complex formation history in its home star system.

New spectroscopic data from the European Southern Observatory suggests 3i/ATLAS contains molecular signatures not commonly found in solar system comets, including unusual isotopic ratios of carbon and nitrogen. These findings strongly support its interstellar origin and provide clues about conditions in other planetary systems.

Astronomers documented a dramatic tail disconnection event when 3i/ATLAS encountered a coronal mass ejection from the Sun. The ion tail separated completely, creating a stunning visual spectacle as a new tail rapidly formed over subsequent hours.

Over 100 professional observatories and thousands of amateur astronomers worldwide have joined forces in the largest coordinated comet observation campaign in history, tracking 3i/ATLAS 24/7 to capture every detail of its solar system passage.

High-resolution Hubble Space Telescope images reveal at least five distinct jet structures erupting from the comet's sunward side, creating spectacular fountain-like formations. These jets are ejecting material at speeds exceeding 400 meters per second.

The global amateur astronomy community has submitted over 50,000 images of 3i/ATLAS through citizen science platforms, creating an unprecedented time-lapse record of the comet's evolution. These contributions are proving invaluable to professional researchers studying comet behavior.

As 3i/ATLAS continues its approach to the Sun, its coma has expanded dramatically to over 200,000 km in diameter—larger than Jupiter. The increasing solar heating is vaporizing volatile materials at an accelerating rate, creating one of the largest cometary atmospheres observed in recent years.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has released comprehensive trajectory calculations confirming 3i/ATLAS will exit the solar system on a hyperbolic path with an eccentricity of 1.2, traveling at 26 km/s relative to the Sun. The comet will never return, making this humanity's only opportunity to study this particular interstellar visitor.

Scientists publish detailed comparison study of 3i/ATLAS with previous interstellar visitors 'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov. While 'Oumuamua showed no cometary activity and Borisov had a typical appearance, 3i/ATLAS exhibits unique characteristics that challenge current models of interstellar object formation.

High-resolution imaging from adaptive optics systems reveals at least eight active gas jets erupting from the comet's nucleus as it heats up approaching the Sun. Analysis of jet patterns suggests the nucleus has an irregular, possibly binary structure.

Radio telescope observations have detected signatures of glycine, the simplest amino acid, in the coma of 3i/ATLAS. This groundbreaking discovery marks the first time amino acids have been confirmed in material from outside our solar system, with profound implications for astrobiology.