Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Surprises Scientists With Color Change
Hey everyone, have you heard about the interstellar visitor that’s been captivating astronomers lately? I’m talking about comet 3I/ATLAS, a remarkable object from outside our solar system that’s showing some truly unexpected behavior. Recent observations suggest it may have changed color once again, giving scientists a rare glimpse into the mysteries of objects that travel between the stars.
3I/ATLAS, only the third interstellar object ever detected, was first spotted speeding toward the Sun at more than 130,000 miles per hour. It’s potentially the oldest of its kind, likely ejected from its home star system in the outer reaches of the Milky Way over seven billion years ago. Since then, it has been drifting through interstellar space, until now, making its first close approach to our Sun and solar system.
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During its recent passage behind the Sun, astronomers noticed something intriguing. Using data from spacecraft still able to observe it, researchers saw that 3I/ATLAS had brightened dramatically, much more than would be expected just from its proximity to the Sun. At the same time, the comet appeared to take on a faint bluish hue. This is the third time its color has shifted since discovery: initially red due to dust, briefly green perhaps from cyanide or dicarbon gases, and now potentially blue. The blue tint might be caused by gases like carbon monoxide or ammonia being released from its surface, although further observations are needed to confirm this.
The comet’s orbit brought it closest to the Sun—its perihelion—on October 29, at a distance about 1.4 times that of Earth from the Sun. It remained largely hidden from Earth-based telescopes, but spacecraft still monitored its activity. Analysis of its trajectory and brightness suggests that 3I/ATLAS may have lost a significant portion of its mass during this passage, potentially up to 13% of its original mass, if natural cometary processes are responsible. If a technological mechanism were involved, less mass would need to be lost to explain the observed acceleration.
Adding to the intrigue, 3I/ATLAS displays several unusual traits. Its trajectory is retrograde yet closely aligned with the plane of the solar system, it has an anti-tail pointing toward the Sun, and its gas plume contains an unusually high proportion of nickel compared to water. Its nucleus is also far more massive than previous interstellar objects, moving faster than both 1I/‘Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov.
In the coming weeks, the comet will become increasingly visible in the Northern Hemisphere, though you’ll need a telescope or binoculars to catch a glimpse. Observations from Earth and space-based instruments like the James Webb Space Telescope are expected to reveal more about its composition and behavior. Whether these color changes are fleeting or permanent remains a mystery, but one thing is certain: 3I/ATLAS continues to challenge our understanding of comets and interstellar visitors, offering a rare opportunity to study material from another star system up close.
It’s not every day we get to watch an ancient traveler from another part of our galaxy make a close pass by the Sun, and 3I/ATLAS is giving astronomers—and all of us—plenty to wonder about.
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