Reports of a Color Change in Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS are Incorrect, Astronomers Confirm
Recent online observations suggesting interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS has undergone a noticeable color shift are inaccurate, according to scientists analyzing data from multiple sources.The comet,originating from outside our solar system,continues its journey toward perihelion – its closest approach to the sun – and remains under intense scrutiny by both professional and amateur astronomers.
This clarification is important as 3I/ATLAS represents a rare opportunity to study material from beyond our solar system firsthand. Its composition offers clues about the formation of planetary systems around other stars, and understanding its behavior as it interacts with our sun’s radiation provides valuable data for refining models of cometary evolution. The comet will reach its closest point to Earth on December 19, passing at a distance of approximately 167 million miles (270 million kilometers).
First discovered in 2023, 3I/ATLAS has been observed by a diverse array of telescopes, including ground-based instruments as small as 6 inches in aperture, alongside major observatories like the Hubble Space Telescope, Europe’s ExoMars trace Gas Orbiter, and China’s Tianwen 1 Mars probe. These observations have allowed scientists to track the comet’s trajectory and analyze its composition.
Imagery captured during its recent flyby of mars around October 3, however, remains unavailable due to a partial shutdown of NASA operations. Despite this, ongoing observations continue to provide a wealth of data. Scientists emphasize that the comet’s appearance can vary due to changing illumination and the release of dust and gas as it heats up, but this does not equate to a essential change in its overall color.
