Independent astronomers have recorded a new image of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, revealing a structural geometry that matches observations made weeks earlier. The discovery, made by Ray’s Astronomy on November 28, 2025, highlights fast rotation waves propagating through the object’s gaseous coma, in a region close to the orbit of
Initial analysis indicates that the object maintains a coherent shape despite variations in observation conditions. Essa persistence raises significant questions about its composition and origin. Especialistas confirm that such features defy standard models of known natural comets.
3I/ATLAS, initially detected in July 2025 by the ATLAS telescope on Chile, travels at approximately 220 thousand km/h in relation to Sol. Sua hyperbolic trajectory confirms an origin outside of Sistema Solar, classifying it as the third known interstellar object, after ‘Oumuamua and Borisov.
Details of the first observations
AstroPhotoG astronomers recorded the first relevant image on October 21, 2025, using a 14-inch Dobsonian telescope during a 45-minute stack. Essa initial capture exposed a luminous core with radial ridges and wavy patterns, inadvertently obtained in a nighttime session under conditions of medium atmospheric transparency.
Weeks later, Ray’s image of Astronomy replicated these features accurately, including a circular envelope around the nucleus and similar compression fields. The consistency between the two observations, separated by more than a month, occurred despite distinct instruments and varying geographic locations, such as the observatory at Utah for the second photo.
The persistent geometry of 3I/ATLAS
The geometry of 3I/ATLAS exhibits a central core with a multilayer envelope, marked by sharp internal discontinuities and radially extending ridges. Essa configuration remains stable in October and November images, regardless of variations in atmospheric transparency or solar phase angles.
Angular bulges in the outline suggest a coherent shape underlying the coma, which is not dissipated by expected solar forcing. Análises forensics applied to the photos reveals symmetrical density transitions, absent in typical comets that demonstrate irregular dispersion of dust and gas.
Experts note that this structural persistence indicates high resistance, possibly maintained by active internal mechanisms. Independent Observações from multiple telescopes confirm the absence of fragmentation, even in the face of accelerated rotation.
Dynamics of spin and rotation waves
Two extended spin waves move through 3I/ATLAS’s coma, rotating clockwise in synchrony with the structure’s global rotation. Essas waves originate from a deep, possibly internal source and dominate the entire gaseous envelope, as measured in Ray’s Astronomy image.
The rotation period occurs on scales of minutes, a pace significantly faster than the cycles of hours or days observed in natural comets. Essa speed suggests the action of cohesive forces that preserve the integrity of the object, contrasting with passive sublimation models.
Spectroscopic analyzes of Hubble Space Telescope, carried out in November 2025, corroborate the detection of these waves, with luminosity patterns that maintain curvature continuity at multiple thresholds. The rotation does not change the observed geometry, reinforcing hypotheses of an exotic composition.
The thin gas coma surrounds the nucleus but exhibits rigid modulations rather than chaotic diffusion. High-resolution Filtros applied to the recent image highlights symmetric density gradients, aligned with the spin waves.
Hyperbolic trajectory and monitoring
3I/ATLAS follows a hyperbolic orbit, with its perihelion reached on October 30, 2025 at 1.4 astronomical units from Sol, a distance close to the orbit of Marte. Sua minimum approach to Terra is scheduled for December 19, 2025, at 1.8 astronomical units, without any risk of collision.
The relative speed of 61 km/s with respect to Sol keeps the object on an exit trajectory from Sistema Solar after perihelion. Observações of Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, in October 2025, captured its close passage to Marte, allowing measurement of the halo of gas and dust.
These structural and rotational anomalies raise discussions in agencies such as NASA and ESA about planetary defense protocols. Embora the object does not pose a threat, its non-gravitational acceleration, initially detected at 1.6×10⁻⁶ au/day², requires continuous monitoring.
Unusual chemical composition
Spectra obtained by European Southern Observatory (ESO) reveal emissions dominated by nickel vapor, with no detection of iron, a pattern inconsistent with comets formed in known stellar systems. Essa chemical signature points to alloys or exotic conditions not replicated in objects in our solar system. Filtros Larson-Sekanina applied to images from November 19, 2025 expose wavy jets emerging from the false core, aligned with the subsolar point. Esses jets exhibit rigidity, with modulations that defy simple sublimation models. The sunward anti-tail, visible in photos of Michael Jäger on November 28, forms a straight, luminous structure, countering the expected solar radiation pressure. Essa formation suggests the presence of internal, not passive, directional forces. Estudos and
Contributions from telescopes and missions
Hubble Space Telescope reobserved 3I/ATLAS on November 30, 2025 with its Wide Field Camera 3, providing crucial data on the object’s size and physical properties. MAVEN’s Imagens in Marte showed the coma halo, while the Lucy probe captured views from a distance of 240 million miles.
Repercussion in the scientific community
Astronomers including Franck Marchis and Ariel Graykowski of SETI Institute have discussed the anomalies in recent sessions, highlighting the potential for insights into planet formation in older star systems. The estimated age of 3I/ATLAS, possibly 3 billion years older than Sistema Solar, offers glimpses of primordial chemistry.
Space agencies plan additional observations during the December 2025 visibility window, focusing on non-gravitational accelerations and rotational patterns. ESA’s Comet Interceptor, scheduled for 2029, serves as a prototype for future interceptions of similar objects, preparing the community for new interstellar visitors.
