Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS's Blue Shine Is Surprising Astronomers
Comet 3I/ATLAS, only 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.
From Earth, the comet has been positioned almost directly behind the Sun for the past month, making ground-based observations nearly impossible during this crucial period.
Instead, astronomers have been watching from space-based observatories, using solar-monitoring satellites like STEREO-A, SOHO, and GOES-19 to track the comet during its near conjunction with our star.
Researchers Qicheng Zhang from Lowell Observatory and Karl Battams from the US Naval Research Laboratory captured the comet's dramatic transformation using these spacecraft.
Related: Strange Green Glow From Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Has Scientists Puzzled
Autor's resume: Astronomers observe comet 3I/ATLAS.