Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Dazzles in New Image following Solar Encounter
A recently captured image reveals the stunning detail of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it journeys away from the sun, showcasing a bright nucleus and a delicate, gossamer-like ion tail sculpted by the solar wind. The image, taken by the Virtual Telescope Project, highlights the unique opportunity to observe an object originating from beyond our solar system.
Comet 3I/ATLAS made its closest approach to the sun on September 27, 2023, and is currently receding from our star. The new image, a composite of 11 exposures each lasting 120 seconds, was captured on November 19 using a 10-inch (250 mm) astrograph telescope and a specialized astronomy camera at the Virtual Telescope Project’s facility in Manciano, Italy.
The image reveals a bright central nucleus surrounded by the diffuse glow of its gaseous coma. Particularly striking is the comet’s ion tail, appearing almost spectral as it’s swept away by the stream of charged particles from the sun – the solar wind.
“For me, it is particularly interesting to see how such an interstellar object evolves,” astronomer Gianluca Masi told Space.com. “Knowing it came from so far away adds a very special flavor to the observations.”
The observations were made during a public livestream as the comet passed through the constellation Virgo.
Readers who have captured their own images of 3I/ATLAS are encouraged to submit them to spacephotos@space.com for potential inclusion in future Space.com coverage, along with their name and location.
