Hubble and Juice probe record new images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS in intense activity

Telescópio Espacial Hubble and the Juice probe, from Agência Espacial Europeia (ESA), captured recent images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. Esse object, the third confirmed from outside Sistema Solar, was observed in November 2025. The closest approach to Terra occurs on December 19, at around 270 million kilometers, without any risk to the planet.

The comet was discovered in July 2025 by the ATLAS system at Chile. Sua hyperbolic trajectory confirms origin external to Sistema Solar. Após passing close to Sol in October, the object exhibited greater release of gases and dust.

• Hubble recorded the comet on November 30, 286 million kilometers from Terra.
• The image reveals a bright coma and bluish glow indicative of sublimation.
• Background stars appear as trails due to fast motion tracking.

Observations from Hubble

Telescópio Hubble provided detailed views of the 3I/ATLAS core and coma.

Images from November show the comet more active than in July. The Wide Field Camera 3 instrument captured details of the gaseous envelope. Observações comparatives indicate an increase in material ejection.

The bluish glow suggests the presence of volatile compounds. Dados help estimate the size of the nucleus between 440 meters and 5.6 kilometers.

Contributions from mission Juice

The Juice probe observed the comet in November 2025, from about 66 million kilometers away.

Five scientific instruments recorded post-perihelion activity. A preliminary image from the navigation camera reveals a bright coma.

• Plasma tail formed by charged gas.
• Faint tail of dust with solid particles.

Complete data arrives at Terra in February 2026.

Trajectory and characteristics

3I/ATLAS follows a hyperbolic orbit at around 30 km/s. Passou close to Sol in October, intensifying ice sublimation. Composição includes hydrogen cyanide and methanol at high levels.

The object poses no threat, being at a distance greater than the orbit of Marte. Visibilidade for telescopes continues for months before Sistema Solar leaves.

Additional observations

Missions such as PUNCH and STEREO recorded the comet incidentally.

Images show tail elongations and ultraviolet emissions. Telescópios terrestrial detect magnitude accessible to amateur equipment.

• Cryovolcanic activity suggested in some analyses.
• Periodic brightness pulses observed in rotations.

These captures enrich the understanding of formations in distant star systems.

Details of the coma and tails

The coma surrounds the solid core of rock, ice and dust.

Solar heating forms gaseous halo and extended tails. Imagens from Juice highlight separate plasma and dust tails. Partículas of carbon-rich dust contributes to the reddish hue in some observations.

Continuous monitoring

Space agencies coordinate multiple observation campaigns.

Hubble and Juice provide data for modeling material ejection. The comet remains a priority target until March 2026. Próxima passes close to Júpiter at a safe distance.

Interstellar origin confirmed

3I/ATLAS originates from another star system. Trajetória indicates ejection millions of years ago. Composição chemistry offers clues about exoplanetary environments. Estudos compare with previous objects like 2I/Borisov.