A recent image of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1 ATLAS) has caught the attention of astronomers worldwide. Taken by the Virtual Telescope Project on November 10, the photo shows a much longer and more defined ion tail. This change signals that the comet is becoming more active as it moves closer to the sun.
The image consists of 18 separate 120-second exposures taken from Manciano, Italy. Even with the bright moon shining nearby, the comet’s ion tail stands out clearly. Gianluca Masi, founder of the Virtual Telescope Project, noted how the ion tail is developing beautifully. It’s exciting to see how this cosmic traveler evolves.
So, what causes an ion tail? It forms when the sun’s ultraviolet rays strip electrons from gas molecules released by the comet. These become charged ions, pushed away by the solar wind—a steady stream of particles from the sun. This ion tail, usually bluish, always points away from the sun, unlike the dust tail, which is often yellowish and follows the comet’s path.
In the latest image, we can see the comet’s bright center surrounded by a compact coma and an ion tail stretching about 0.7 degrees across the sky. An “anti-tail,” caused by the perspective of dust along the comet’s orbit, is also visible. The increase in activity suggests that 3I/ATLAS is releasing gas and dust more vigorously as it warms up near the sun.
3I/ATLAS is only the third confirmed interstellar object detected, following 1I/’Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov. This comet is bright enough for detailed study, giving astronomers a rare chance to observe its behavior under the sun’s influence.
Experts believe that the comet may contain a significant amount of carbon dioxide ice. This is important as it can offer hints about the conditions in its original planetary system. Learning more about 3I/ATLAS can help scientists understand the evolution of comets not just in our solar system but beyond as well.
The Virtual Telescope Project plans to keep an eye on 3I/ATLAS as it travels further into the solar system, promising more stunning images to come. To explore past images or learn more about this comet, you can visit the Virtual Telescope’s website.
