Active Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS displayed increased activity and lengthening during its approach toward the Sun.
The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is making headlines once again as it becomes more active, according to recent observations made by astronomers and students working with the Gemini South telescope.
Images captured by the Gemini South telescope on Cerro PachΓ³n in Chile reveal a growing tail, a glowing coma, and provide new data about the comet's composition. The tail of comet 3I/ATLAS is significantly more extended than in earlier images, and there's evidence that it could be the oldest comet ever seen.
Through these observations, scientists have learned about the chemical makeup, size, and trajectory of the comet. The primary objectives of the observations were to study the colors and spectrum of the comet, providing insights into its composition and chemistry. The first glimpse of the chemistry from the spectrum of 3I/ATLAS was obtained during these new observations.
Comet 3I/ATLAS, only the third known comet to have originated from beyond our Solar System, has been imaged by some of the world's most powerful telescopes, including the Very Large Telescope, Gemini North Telescope, Hubble Space Telescope, SPHEREx, and the James Webb Space Telescope.
The latest observations of 3I/ATLAS with the Gemini South telescope suggest a change in the particles of the comet from the previous Gemini images. The new observations reveal similarities between its dust and ice to those of comets within our Solar System.
The public outreach initiative, organised by NSF NOIRLab in collaboration with Shadow the Scientists, allowed students from Hawai'i and La Serena, Chile to remotely join the Gemini South control room and interact with astronomers. Attendees of the initiative joined from various locations including Europe, New Zealand, and South America.
Comet 3I/ATLAS is due to make close passes of the Sun, Earth, Mars, and Jupiter, making it an exciting subject of study for astronomers and the general public alike. As we continue to observe this unique interstellar visitor, we may uncover even more secrets about its origins and the wider universe.
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