Agência Espacial Europeia’s JUICE probe intercepted unprecedented data from the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, revealing a massive ejection of water vapor. The equipment recorded the phenomenon in November 2025, shortly after the celestial body reached its closest point to Sol. The volume of liquid dispersed in space reached two tons per second. The detection occurred opportunistically while the spacecraft followed its main route.
Essa amount of material is equivalent to the capacity of 70 Olympic swimming pools every 24 hours. The probe carried out the measurements while traveling towards the planet Júpiter. Scientists on Terra continue to receive full telemetry in February 2026. The delay in transmitting data packets is due to communication limitations imposed by the spacecraft’s thermal protection phases.
Instrumentos precision map gas and dust cloud
The spacecraft activated five scientific instruments to monitor the visitor between November 2nd and 25th. The MAJIS spectrometer identified the exact rate of water emission four days after the comet’s perihelion. The SWI submillimeter wave instrument confirmed the origin of the vapor. The hardware operated at a distance of 60 million kilometers from the target.
The analysis demonstrated complex dynamics in the release of materials. The vapor did not emanate exclusively from the comet’s solid nucleus. A significant portion of the gas originated from ice grains suspended in the coma. Essa cloud of dust and gas surrounds the central structure and reacts directly to solar radiation. Thermal energy reaches the particles and causes an immediate reaction.
The SWI equipment mapped the spatial distribution of the emission around the celestial body. The data confirmed that the most intense activity occurred on the face facing Sol. The extreme heat causes instantaneous sublimation of the ejected frozen grains. The solid state transforms into gas without passing through the liquid phase. The continuous process fuels the expansion of the coma in a vacuum.
Hyperbolic Trajetória confirms origin outside Sistema Solar
The object carries the official designation C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) and represents the third confirmed interstellar visitor in the history of astronomy. The NASA-funded ATLAS telescope network installed on Chile made the initial detection on July 1, 2025. The astronomical body has exhibited a hyperbolic orbit since the first observations. Essa geometric characteristic proves its formation in another star system.
The comet was traveling at a speed of 61 kilometers per second relative to Sol at the time of discovery. The distance was 4.5 astronomical units from the center of our system. The perihelion occurred between October 29 and 30, 2025. The maximum approach took the object 1.4 astronomical units from the star, slightly inside the orbit of Marte.
The trajectory does not represent any type of threat to Terra. The minimum distance from our planet remained in the range of 1.8 astronomical units. Observatórios terrestrials had already monitored the comet’s activity months before its closest approach. The rate of water production measured about 40 kilograms per second when the object was still far from the sun’s heat.
Dinâmica sublimation and visitor chemical composition
The chemical signature of 3I/ATLAS differs from comets formed in Sistema Solar. The proportion of carbon dioxide appears quite high when compared to the volume of water. Secondary sublimation of frozen grains in the coma explains much of the observed activity. Solar radiation heats the ejected particles and triggers large-scale vapor release.
The researchers established a timeline for the behavior of the extended water sources. The fraction of vapor originating from the coma reached 80% before perihelion. The rate dropped to approximately 50% as the object approached Sol. The mechanism reveals how interstellar bodies react to extreme temperature variations in space.
The data collected by Agência Espacial Europeia consolidates specific parameters about the astronomical event:
- The probe recorded the release of 2,000 kilograms of water vapor per second in early November 2025.
- The greatest concentration of gas emanated from the face of the comet directly illuminated by Sol.
- Ice grains dispersed in the coma represented the main source of the detected material.
- The emission rate reflects a common pattern, but gains relevance due to the interstellar nature of the object.
- The MAJIS and SWI spectrometers ensured the accuracy of measurements from 60 million kilometers away.
The combination of these factors helps astronomers build an accurate model of the comet’s physical structure. The ejection of ice particles functions as a secondary mass loss mechanism. The central core preserves part of its original structure while the outer layer disintegrates. The phenomenon creates the characteristic trail observed by telescopes.
Implicações scientific and the future of space missions
Outras space and terrestrial missions followed the passage of the celestial body. Dados spectroscopy identified the presence of hydroxyl in the early stages of the approach. Essa molecule serves as an indirect indicator of the existence of water. The detection occurred when the comet was still 2.5 astronomical units away from Sol.
The JUICE probe’s navigation camera also captured optical images of the event. Preliminary visual records show the density of the coma and the flows of gas and dust. The spacecraft used a favorable geometric position during its long journey to perform the observations. The scientific bonus did not compromise the main operation schedule.
Comet 3I/ATLAS follows its exit trajectory and will never return to Sistema Solar. The object’s kinetic energy overcomes the Sol’s gravitational pull. The pass offers a unique opportunity to compare the chemistry of different stellar regions. The high concentration of carbon dioxide may indicate formation in extremely cold environments.
The JUICE probe resumes its primary focus after data transmission is complete. The equipment travels towards the icy moons of Júpiter. Arrival in the Jovian system is scheduled for the year 2031. The analysis of the interstellar comet adds an unexpected chapter to the history of the European mission and expands the catalog of data on wandering celestial bodies.