Yesterday was Oct. 29, perihelion for 3I/ATLAS. That was the point in its trajectory (not orbit) when it was closest to the Sun. As the comet neared the Sun, it rose in temperature, and thus activity. That activity: Astrophysics >… Read More »3I Behind Prime Sky Light
In November 1’s issue (vol. 993 #1) of Astrophysical Journal Letters: Farnocchia, D. Vokrouhlicky, D. Santana-Ros, T. et al. Radiation Forces and Trajectory of Hayabusa2# Target 1998 KY26 L9 ae10b8Salazar Manzano, L. E. Lin, H-W. Taylor, A. G. et al.… Read More »Note, Paper: Non-Pusher
Of late, in Planetary Science Journal (all vol.6): Salazar Manzano, L. E. Gerdes, D. W. Napier, K. J. et al. Prospects of a New L5 Trojan Flyby Target for the Lucy Mission 213 adf5c2Dorsey, R. C. Hopkins, M. J. Bannister,… Read More »Note, Paper: PSJ Particle Population Post
Our interstellar friend is behind the Sun (to observers on or near Earth). Good time to recap activity (emission of coma and tail(s)) so far: Astrophysics > Earth and Planetary Astrophysics arxiv.org/abs/2510.18769[Submitted on 21 Oct 2025]Jewitt, D. Luu, J. Pre-perihelion… Read More »First-Half ATLAS Activity Track
Not only are we characterizing interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, we’re going meta: Astrophysics > Earth and Planetary Astrophysics arxiv.org/abs/2510.13222[Submitted on 16 Oct 2025]Grant, S. R. Jones, G. H. Prospects for the Crossing of Comet 3I/ATLAS’s Ion Tail arxiv.org/abs/2510.11779[Submitted on 15 Oct… Read More »Chance ATLAS Plasma Catch?
The “issues” of Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS) for October are up: volume 542, #4 – volume 543, #1Li, Z. Qiao, D. Li, X. Spatial temporary capture in the Sun–planet three-body system Pgs 625 staf1430 volume 543,… Read More »Note, Paper: Planetary Particles Aplenty
Briefly: the PUNCH mission to monitor the Sun states that they are still tracking interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, even though the small body has passed “behind” the Sun (as seen from Earth). In other words, ‘solar conjunction’: bsky.app/profile/kwalsh4a.bsky.social/post/3m2rnxlgigs2v “While 3I Atlas… Read More »PUNCH Sun Conjunction Mention
The characterization continues. With the trajectory well-determined over a long arc, we check and recheck spectral bands and lines (therefore, compositions): Astrophysics > Earth and Planetary Astrophysics arxiv.org/abs/2510.02817[Submitted on 7 Oct 2025]Coulson, I. M. Kuan, Y-J. Charnley, S. B. JCMT… Read More »3I Cyanide Multi-Time Described
More spectral sleuthing attempted at ATLAS: Astrophysics > Earth and Planetary Astrophysics arxiv.org/abs/2509.26053[Submitted on 30 Sep 2025]Hutsemékers, D. Manfroid, J. Jehin, E. et al. Extreme NiI/FeI abundance ratio in the coma of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS As I’ve mentioned before,… Read More »3I/ATLAS Flash-To-Gas Graphed
Briefly: I post on the PUNCH mission, since Sungrazing comets are relevant (including ‘comets’- asteroids passing so close to the Sun that rock vaporizes and emits). Now, PUNCH is relevant for (barely) tracking 3I/ATLAS as it starts going behind the Sun… Read More »PUNCH Catches ATLAS Passage