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Juice Spacecraft Captures Stunning First Images of Comet 3I/ATLAS

ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (juice) has delivered a surprising early glimpse of Comet 3I/ATLAS, revealing a glowing coma and hints of both plasma and dust tails, despite only receiving a quarter of a single image from its navigation camera.

The images, captured on November 2, 2025, were taken during Juice’s first observation slot of the comet, two days before its closest approach at approximately 66 million km. While the primary science data from five onboard instruments – JANUS, MAJIS, UVS, SWI, and PEP – won’t arrive until February 2026 due to data transmission limitations, the Juice team eagerly downloaded a small portion of a NavCam image to preview the findings.

The resulting image exceeded expectations, clearly showing the comet’s active state. The coma,a glowing halo of gas surrounding the comet,is prominently visible,alongside potential indications of a plasma tail – composed of electrically charged gas – stretching upwards,and a fainter dust tail extending towards the lower left.

“The very clearly visible comet, surrounded by signs of activity, surprised them,” ESA officials stated.

This observation is notably significant as Juice viewed 3I/ATLAS after its closest approach to the Sun,meaning the comet was exhibiting heightened activity. This contrasts with observations made by ESA’s Mars orbiters in October, which captured the comet from a greater distance. Scientists anticipate even clearer evidence of this activity when the full dataset from the science instruments is received in February. This data will include high-resolution images from JANUS, spectrometry data from MAJIS and UVS, compositional data from SWI, and particle data from PEP.

Currently, Juice is utilizing its high-gain antenna as a heat shield against the Sun, limiting data transmission to a slower rate via its medium-gain antenna.

For ongoing updates and frequently asked questions regarding Comet 3I/ATLAS,visit esa.int/3IATLAS. An annotated version of the image is available for download here.

What is the primary driver of the increased outgassing observed in Comet 3I/ATLAS?

Comet 3I/ATLAS displays Increased Activity in New Navigation Camera Teaser Image

Comet 3I/ATLAS, a recently discovered comet poised for potential naked-eye visibility, is currently captivating astronomers with a surge in activity. A newly released teaser image from the New navigation Camera (NavCam) aboard the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Hera mission provides compelling evidence of this increased dynamism. This article delves into the details of this comet, its observed changes, and what these developments mean for future observations and potential viewing opportunities.

Understanding Comet 3I/ATLAS

Discovered in early 2023, Comet 3I/ATLAS (named after the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) initially appeared as a faint, diffuse object. Its orbit suggests it’s a long-period comet, meaning it has a very long orbital period – potentially thousands of years – and originates from the distant Oort Cloud. Long-period comets are often less predictable than their short-period counterparts.

* Cometary Composition: Comets are frequently enough described as “dirty snowballs,” composed of ice, dust, rock, and frozen gases. As they approach the Sun, these materials vaporize, creating the coma (the fuzzy atmosphere around the nucleus) and the tail.

* Orbital Characteristics: 3I/ATLAS is currently on its inbound journey towards the Sun,reaching perihelion (closest approach) in September 2024.This makes it a prime target for observation throughout 2024 and early 2025.

* Brightness Prediction: Initial predictions suggested a potentially radiant comet, possibly visible to the naked eye. However, cometary brightness is notoriously challenging to predict, and its actual visibility will depend on its composition and how it interacts with solar radiation.

The New Navigation Camera Image & Increased Activity

the recent image captured by Hera’s NavCam, though a teaser, reveals a significant change in the comet’s appearance.Astronomers are noting a distinct increase in the comet’s coma and tail structure.

* Observed Changes: The NavCam image shows a more pronounced and structured coma compared to earlier observations. The tail appears longer and more defined, indicating increased outgassing.

* navcam’s Role: The NavCam is primarily designed for spacecraft navigation, but its wide field of view and sensitivity make it an excellent tool for capturing images of celestial objects like comets. This opportunistic observation provides valuable data for the scientific community.

* Dust and gas Emission: The increased activity suggests a higher rate of dust and gas emission from the comet’s nucleus as it heats up. This outgassing is driven by solar radiation.

What Drives Cometary Activity?

Cometary activity isn’t constant. Several factors influence how much gas and dust a comet releases:

1. Solar Heating: As a comet approaches the sun, the increasing solar radiation vaporizes its icy components.
2. Nucleus Composition: The composition of the comet’s nucleus plays a crucial role. Comets rich in volatile substances like water ice and carbon dioxide will exhibit more pronounced activity.
3. Surface Features: the comet’s surface features, such as vents and fractures, can influence where and how gas and dust are released.
4. Outbursts: Some comets experience sudden, dramatic increases in activity known as outbursts. These can be triggered by various factors, including subsurface ice deposits or rotational effects.

Observing Comet 3I/ATLAS: Tips and Resources

For amateur astronomers and skywatchers eager to observe Comet 3I/ATLAS, here are some helpful tips:

* Finding Charts: Utilize online resources like The Sky live or astronomy apps (SkySafari, Stellarium) to generate finding charts showing the comet’s current position.

* Telescope/Binocular Requirements: While potentially visible to the naked eye at its peak, a small telescope or binoculars