On November 22, 2025, Japanese astronomer Mitsunori Tsumura captured images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS with a 0.5-meter telescope. The photos show extremely parallel and straight tails of ions and dust, behavior different from that expected for natural comets. The object, the third confirmed interstellar, maintains rigidity even under the influence of the solar wind.
The tail does not exhibit typical scattering or curvature caused by interaction with solar particles. The nucleus remains compact and the coma maintains almost spherical symmetry, without asymmetric jets common in Sistema Solar comets.
Tail maintains linear shape throughout
The recorded images show that the main tail remains narrow and uniform over millions of kilometers. There are no signs of fragmentation or uneven texture.
A weaker secondary filament appears parallel to the main tail, with minimal angular separation. Essa parallel configuration is rare in natural objects.
Compact core defies known standards
The nucleus of 3I/ATLAS appears as a concentrated point, without a diffuse halo of dust. Estimativas based on observations of Hubble indicate a maximum diameter of 5.6 km, possibly less than 440 meters.
The absence of diffusion suggests low release of volatile material. The coma maintains symmetrical brightness around the central nucleus.
Absence of curvature intrigues experts
Comets typically exhibit tail curvature due to orbital motion and solar wind. No 3I/ATLAS, the tail remains straight even in a hyperbolic trajectory.
NASA data indicate non-gravitational acceleration that will adjust the orbit to approach Júpiter in 2026. The calculated minimum distance is 53.5 million km, with an accuracy of a few thousand kilometers.
Behavior differs from previous objects
Comet 2I/Borisov, the second interstellar detected, had a curved and dispersed tail. The 3I/ATLAS maintains structural rigidity throughout the observed range.
- Straight and homogeneous main tail
- Parallel secondary filament with minimal separation
- Symmetrical coma without directional jets
- Point nucleus without diffuse halo
Future observations may clarify origin
The comet passed perihelion in October at 1.4 AU from Sol. Missões as well as Lucy and Psyche collected data during approach to Marte.
Ground-based observatories continue monitoring non-gravitational acceleration. Novas images should be obtained in the coming weeks as the object moves away from Sol.
Trajectory maintains unusual precision
Calculations indicate that small acceleration adjusts trajectory with kilometer precision. The approach to Júpiter will occur exactly at the predicted distance.
This orbital precision has no known conventional gravitational explanation. Monitoring continues by telescopes at Japão, Chile and Havaí.