A quiet dawn at Mount Abu brought an unusual sight as scientists watched an interstellar visitor fade into distant space. The comet, carrying ancient ices, offered rare data before slipping away.
Detailed comet imaging raises early questions
Scientists at the Physical Research Laboratory used their 1.2-metre telescope to observe comet 3I/ATLAS between 12 November and 15 November 2025. They captured false-colour images showing a circular coma shaped by solar heating. What do these images suggest about the comet’s changing structure? The coma forms when sunlight warms the nucleus and forces hidden ices to release gas and dust into space. Why is this object so important for research teams? The comet follows a hyperbolic path from another star system, making it the third known interstellar comet to enter our Solar System.
Spectral data reveals distinct chemical signatures
Researchers also collected spectral data shortly before morning twilight. Which molecules appeared in the ultraviolet and visible bands? The team recorded CN, C2 and C3 emissions, features commonly seen in Solar System comets. What do these signatures reveal about the comet’s chemistry? The data helps scientists measure the production rate, which shows how rapidly the comet releases gas as it recedes from the inner Solar System.
Mount Abu facility strengthens comet observations
Located near Gurushikhar at 1680 metres, the Mount Abu observatory continues its role in planetary and stellar research. How vital is this telescope for such studies? The observatory supports long-term monitoring of transient cosmic objects and provides precise measurements of dust tails and ionised gases. Deep wide-field images from this campaign showed the ion tail extending behind the nucleus as solar wind pushed charged particles away from the Sun.
These observations by ISRO-affiliated researchers add key insight into the behaviour of 3I/ATLAS and improve current understanding of material formed beyond the Sun. NASA will hold a media conference tonight to release its own images captured from Mars orbit during the comet’s closest approach to the Sun.
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