Erika
@explorecosmos.bsky.social
Canadian Astrophysicist • Chasing distant worlds & mountain peaks • Breathing with the Earth through yoga • Writing what the soul whispers.
https://www.instagram.com/explorecosmos_/
https://www.instagram.com/explorecosmos_/
In this way, the new radio detection offers a compelling piece of evidence that 3I/ATLAS is a bona-fide interstellar comet, a visitor from beyond our Solar System behaving in line with our known cometary physics. 9/9
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
In this way, the new radio detection offers a compelling piece of evidence that 3I/ATLAS is a bona-fide interstellar comet, a visitor from beyond our Solar System behaving in line with our known cometary physics. 9/9
Further monitoring will help clarify whether the hydroxyl production is steady or variable, how extended the gas tail is, and how the object’s trajectory responds to non-gravitational forces. 8/
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Further monitoring will help clarify whether the hydroxyl production is steady or variable, how extended the gas tail is, and how the object’s trajectory responds to non-gravitational forces. 8/
The observations were made on 24 October, shortly before the object’s perihelion, and after earlier unsuccessful attempts on 20 and 28 September. 7/
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
The observations were made on 24 October, shortly before the object’s perihelion, and after earlier unsuccessful attempts on 20 and 28 September. 7/
Although the detection alone does not shut down every alternative hypothesis, it significantly reduces the plausibility of a “probe” interpretation and underscores the comet-like nature of 3I/ATLAS. 6/
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Although the detection alone does not shut down every alternative hypothesis, it significantly reduces the plausibility of a “probe” interpretation and underscores the comet-like nature of 3I/ATLAS. 6/
Earlier speculations had entertained the possibility of technological origin, fanned by social-media theories and even proposals by controversial astrophysicist Avi Loeb, but this molecular signature strongly tilts the balance toward a natural origin. 4/
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Earlier speculations had entertained the possibility of technological origin, fanned by social-media theories and even proposals by controversial astrophysicist Avi Loeb, but this molecular signature strongly tilts the balance toward a natural origin. 4/
Because 3I/ATLAS was approaching its closest point to the Sun, the geometry favored absorption of radio signals rather than emission, matching expected behaviour of an active comet rather than a transmitter. 3/
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Because 3I/ATLAS was approaching its closest point to the Sun, the geometry favored absorption of radio signals rather than emission, matching expected behaviour of an active comet rather than a transmitter. 3/
The signal consists of absorption lines of hydroxyl radicals (OH) at 1665 MHz and 1667 MHz, molecules commonly found when icy bodies near the Sun sublimate and generate a gaseous coma. 2/
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
The signal consists of absorption lines of hydroxyl radicals (OH) at 1665 MHz and 1667 MHz, molecules commonly found when icy bodies near the Sun sublimate and generate a gaseous coma. 2/
... (which will eventually survey ~20 billion galaxies) will systematically reveal a rich archaeological record of galaxy formation. 5/5
November 10, 2025 at 5:59 AM
... (which will eventually survey ~20 billion galaxies) will systematically reveal a rich archaeological record of galaxy formation. 5/5
... namely its unusually high star-formation rate and multiple supernovae.
The discovery underscores that such stellar streams are likely ubiquitous around large galaxies and that Rubin’s unprecedented wide-field, deep-imaging camera... 4/
The discovery underscores that such stellar streams are likely ubiquitous around large galaxies and that Rubin’s unprecedented wide-field, deep-imaging camera... 4/
November 10, 2025 at 5:59 AM
... namely its unusually high star-formation rate and multiple supernovae.
The discovery underscores that such stellar streams are likely ubiquitous around large galaxies and that Rubin’s unprecedented wide-field, deep-imaging camera... 4/
The discovery underscores that such stellar streams are likely ubiquitous around large galaxies and that Rubin’s unprecedented wide-field, deep-imaging camera... 4/
Astronomers interpret this as the shredded remnant of a dwarf galaxy that M61’s gravity ripped apart: this ancient encounter may have triggered fresh bursts of star formation in M61 and explains some of the galaxy’s puzzling properties, ... 3/
November 10, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Astronomers interpret this as the shredded remnant of a dwarf galaxy that M61’s gravity ripped apart: this ancient encounter may have triggered fresh bursts of star formation in M61 and explains some of the galaxy’s puzzling properties, ... 3/
... and revealed for the first time a faint but very long stellar stream, a “tail” stretching about 55 kiloparsecs (≈180,000 light-years)—that had gone unnoticed despite decades of study. 2/
November 10, 2025 at 5:59 AM
... and revealed for the first time a faint but very long stellar stream, a “tail” stretching about 55 kiloparsecs (≈180,000 light-years)—that had gone unnoticed despite decades of study. 2/
These fresh observations highlight just how much we still don’t know about interstellar objects. 7/7
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
These fresh observations highlight just how much we still don’t know about interstellar objects. 7/7
Though such behavior is not unheard of for comets, 3I/ATLAS nevertheless remains unusual: it shares comet-like activity while originating from outside our Solar System, and its composition and behaviour may inform us about conditions in another part of the galaxy. 6/
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Though such behavior is not unheard of for comets, 3I/ATLAS nevertheless remains unusual: it shares comet-like activity while originating from outside our Solar System, and its composition and behaviour may inform us about conditions in another part of the galaxy. 6/
Concurrently, the object brightened significantly, by a factor of about five in the green band, which supports the idea that volatile release or fragmentation is ongoing. 5/
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Concurrently, the object brightened significantly, by a factor of about five in the green band, which supports the idea that volatile release or fragmentation is ongoing. 5/
Based on the measured accelerations, the mass loss could amount to about 13 percent (or more) of the body’s total mass, assuming a typical gas-ejection speed near perihelion. 4/
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Based on the measured accelerations, the mass loss could amount to about 13 percent (or more) of the body’s total mass, assuming a typical gas-ejection speed near perihelion. 4/
... both radially and tangentially relative to the Sun.
The most plausible explanation is that 3I/ATLAS has been losing mass via outgassing, volatiles liberated by solar heating exert a thrust that nudges its path. 3/
The most plausible explanation is that 3I/ATLAS has been losing mass via outgassing, volatiles liberated by solar heating exert a thrust that nudges its path. 3/
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
... both radially and tangentially relative to the Sun.
The most plausible explanation is that 3I/ATLAS has been losing mass via outgassing, volatiles liberated by solar heating exert a thrust that nudges its path. 3/
The most plausible explanation is that 3I/ATLAS has been losing mass via outgassing, volatiles liberated by solar heating exert a thrust that nudges its path. 3/
While briefly hidden from view behind the Sun, it was monitored by spacecraft near Mars, and when it emerged, astronomers observed that its trajectory has shifted in a way that cannot be explained by gravity alone: the object shows non-gravitational acceleration ... 2/
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
While briefly hidden from view behind the Sun, it was monitored by spacecraft near Mars, and when it emerged, astronomers observed that its trajectory has shifted in a way that cannot be explained by gravity alone: the object shows non-gravitational acceleration ... 2/
... recently observed for 3I/ATLAS, C/2025 K1 is now visible with a good telescope or binoculars in the constellations of Virgo and Leo before dawn, at least through early December. 6/6
November 6, 2025 at 8:29 PM
... recently observed for 3I/ATLAS, C/2025 K1 is now visible with a good telescope or binoculars in the constellations of Virgo and Leo before dawn, at least through early December. 6/6
They also suggest that its extreme proximity to the Sun and its relatively low gas-to-dust ratio may have contributed to the effect. With an apparent magnitude near 9, the same brightness ... 5/
November 6, 2025 at 8:29 PM
They also suggest that its extreme proximity to the Sun and its relatively low gas-to-dust ratio may have contributed to the effect. With an apparent magnitude near 9, the same brightness ... 5/
Astronomers believe this peculiar hue is due to a remarkable scarcity of carbon-bearing molecules such as dicarbon, carbon monoxide, and cyanide, which altered the reflected colors of its gases and dust. 4/
November 6, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Astronomers believe this peculiar hue is due to a remarkable scarcity of carbon-bearing molecules such as dicarbon, carbon monoxide, and cyanide, which altered the reflected colors of its gases and dust. 4/
Against all odds, it survived its perilous perihelion and reemerged with a striking golden-reddish-brown glow in its coma and tail, a highly unusual color for comets. 3/
November 6, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Against all odds, it survived its perilous perihelion and reemerged with a striking golden-reddish-brown glow in its coma and tail, a highly unusual color for comets. 3/
... overshadowed by the famous interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS.
However, around October 8, as it passed just 50 million kilometers from the Sun, four times closer than the other ATLAS, it seemed doomed to disintegrate. 2/
However, around October 8, as it passed just 50 million kilometers from the Sun, four times closer than the other ATLAS, it seemed doomed to disintegrate. 2/
November 6, 2025 at 8:29 PM
... overshadowed by the famous interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS.
However, around October 8, as it passed just 50 million kilometers from the Sun, four times closer than the other ATLAS, it seemed doomed to disintegrate. 2/
However, around October 8, as it passed just 50 million kilometers from the Sun, four times closer than the other ATLAS, it seemed doomed to disintegrate. 2/