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SwRI Says Interstellar Comet Flybys Are Achievable as 3I/ATLAS Defies Expectations

New telescope data show an extreme carbon‑dioxide–dominated coma with unusually early activity far from the Sun.

Comet 3I/ATLAS streaks across a dense star field in this image captured by the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) on Gemini South at Cerro Pachón in Chile. This image is composed of exposures taken through four filters — red, green, blue and ultraviolet. As exposures are taken, the comet remains fixed in the center of the telescope’s field of view. However, the positions of the background stars change relative to the comet, causing them to appear as colorful streaks in the final image. These observations of Comet 3I/ATLAS were conducted during a Shadow the Scientists program hosted by NSF NOIRLab. A full recording of the session can be found here. Image via International Gemini Observatory/ NOIRLab/ NSF/ AURA/ Shadow the Scientist. Image Processing via J. Miller & M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab)/ T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab)/ M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab). Used with permission.
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(Image Source: ESA/Hubble Telescope, Wikicommons)

Overview

  • Southwest Research Institute detailed a mission concept validating a high‑speed intercept of 3I/ATLAS with launch energies comparable to past NASA missions.
  • Study leaders, including Dr. Alan Stern and Dr. Mark Tapley, concluded that flyby encounters of interstellar comets can be executed at reasonable cost using existing technology.
  • 3I/ATLAS, only the third known interstellar visitor, has been observed by Hubble, JWST, SPHEREx, and TESS in a coordinated campaign.
  • SPHEREx and JWST measurements indicate the highest carbon‑dioxide‑to‑water ratio ever seen in a comet, pointing to an unusually CO2‑rich coma.
  • TESS archival data show the object was already active at roughly six astronomical units, and Hubble imaging reveals a teardrop‑shaped dust cocoon without a distinct tail, while suggested looks by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter or Juno remain proposals.