The youngest and most enigmatic visitor to our cosmic neighborhood began this Transform your appearance in front of the lenses of the most powerful telescopes on earth. National Science Foundation (NSF) researchers operating the Gemini North telescope discovered a significant change on the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS: The object that previously had a reddish hue now glows with a intense green color.
This chromatic change is not a sign of extraterrestrial activity or little green men, but a direct result of it Space chemistry. According to a statement from NSF’s NOIRLab, the person responsible for this glow is diatomic carbon (C2), a molecule consisting of two carbon atoms that, when released and excited by sunlight, radiates this color Feature.
The phenomenon is fascinating to astronomers because it provides information about the comet’s composition actively reacts to the heat of our star. When the Gemini South telescope observed the object in late August, months before its current approach, 3I/ATLAS looked noticeably redder.
This transition from red to green is physical evidence that Comet nucleus heats up and in full release of new molecules into space, providing new clues about its mysterious internal structure. Although the green color is striking, It’s not just reserved for this interstellar traveler. Many comets native to our solar system exhibit a similar hue when activated by sunlight. Recent examples include comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, nicknamed the “Mother of Dragons,” and the newly discovered C/2025 F2 (SWAN).
3I/ATLAS holds a special place in the history of modern astronomy as the third identified interstellar object after 1I/’Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov. Discovered at the end of June, it travels to one dizzying speed estimated at 210,000 kilometers per hour. Its hyperbolic U-shaped trajectory suggests this is the case a unique visit: Once you cross our system, you will never come back.
The scientific community agrees that this is probably the case largest interstellar object and old observed to this day. Despite viral theories suggesting it could be extraterrestrial technology, the vast majority of space agencies and astronomers believe it could be extraterrestrial technology They agree that it is a typical dragonbut with fascinating functions like large jets facing the sun and evidence that they have been irradiated over billions of years deep space.
Next December 19, the comet will mark the closest point to Earth at a safe distance of 270 million kilometers. However, scientists remain vigilant possible surprises in your behavior.
“What remains unknown is how will it behave “The comet leaves the Sun’s environment and cools,” NOIRLab representatives wrote in the statement, adding: “Many comets have a delayed response to the Sun’s heat because the heat takes a long time to penetrate through the interior of the comet.” A delay can trigger the evaporation of new chemicals or trigger a comet eruption“.
Dozens of observatories and spacecraft continue to monitor 3I/ATLAS. A detailed study could shed light on this unpublished details about the Limits of our galaxy and how some of the oldest star systems in the Milky Way formed.
By Gabrielle Gutierrez
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