Overview
- An arXiv study by Qicheng Zhang and Karl Battams using SOHO, STEREO-A and GOES-19 reports a rapid, accelerated brightening at perihelion unlike behavior seen in known solar system comets.
- The object appeared notably bluer than the Sun, with analyses indicating emissions dominated by gas (including carbon molecules) rather than the dust-driven glow typical of many comets.
- Ground-based imagery such as Gemini North’s has captured a complex, multi-hued coma consistent with strong gaseous emission, reinforcing evidence of volatile-rich activity.
- NASA and most researchers continue to assess 3I/ATLAS as a natural interstellar comet, with no radio emissions detected and officials reiterating there is no threat to Earth.
- The next key check comes on December 19, when the object’s ~167 million-mile approach enables tests to confirm whether outgassing explains its non-gravitational acceleration and recent brightening.