Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS's Blue Shine Is Surprising Astronomers
Comet 3I/ATLAS, the third known visitor from beyond our Solar System, has been brightening far more rapidly than expected as it approaches perihelion, its closest point to the Sun.
Due to its position almost directly behind the Sun for the past month, ground-based observations have been nearly impossible, and astronomers have relied on space-based observatories instead.
A team of researchers, including Qicheng Zhang from Lowell Observatory and Karl Battams from the US Naval Research Laboratory, used solar-monitoring satellites to track the comet during its near conjunction with the Sun.
Utilizing instruments aboard STEREO-A, SOHO, and GOES-19, they captured the comet's dramatic transformation, revealing a surprising blue shine.
Researchers are puzzled by the strange green glow from Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS.
Astronomers have been watching the comet from space-based observatories, providing valuable insights into its behavior.
Author's summary: Comet 3I/ATLAS shines blue.