JWST mid-IR observations of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS yield the first direct methane detection and confirm strongly enhanced CO2:H2O mixing ratios relative to solar system comets.
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6 Pith papers cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.
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astro-ph.EP 6years
2026 6representative citing papers
Transit spectrum of TOI-6894b indicates 3-10x solar metallicity with solar C/O, N/O, and S/O ratios, similar to Jupiter and Saturn.
Tianwen-1 provided the first out-of-plane imaging of 3I/ATLAS, indicating large dust grains (hundreds of micrometers) ejected at 3-10 m/s with steady-state outflow and a mass loss rate of about 1000 kg/s.
Multi-band photometry and Monte Carlo modeling of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS yield a dust size distribution with power-law index -3.5 and a phase curve showing opposition surge of 0.1-0.4 mag distinct from Solar System comets.
An analytic sky-motion formula applied to synthetic interstellar object populations indicates that high velocities, particularly for dim objects, may cause many to go undetected, implying a larger galactic population than currently observed.
The paper estimates 3I/ATLAS lost 1.05-6.56 meters of surface material (0.10-1.13% of its mass, or 10^9-10^10 kg) during its solar system passage based on observed production rates.
citing papers explorer
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The Volatile Inventory of 3I/ATLAS as seen with JWST/MIRI
JWST mid-IR observations of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS yield the first direct methane detection and confirm strongly enhanced CO2:H2O mixing ratios relative to solar system comets.
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C, N, O, S, and photochemistry in a temperate giant planet orbiting a late M dwarf
Transit spectrum of TOI-6894b indicates 3-10x solar metallicity with solar C/O, N/O, and S/O ratios, similar to Jupiter and Saturn.
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Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Observed from Mars by China's Tianwen-1 Spacecraft
Tianwen-1 provided the first out-of-plane imaging of 3I/ATLAS, indicating large dust grains (hundreds of micrometers) ejected at 3-10 m/s with steady-state outflow and a mass loss rate of about 1000 kg/s.
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Dust colour, phase behaviour, and Monte Carlo modelling of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS from 4 au pre- to 4 au post-perihelion
Multi-band photometry and Monte Carlo modeling of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS yield a dust size distribution with power-law index -3.5 and a phase curve showing opposition surge of 0.1-0.4 mag distinct from Solar System comets.
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Sky-Plane Velocity Distributions of Interstellar Objects and Implications for Their Detection
An analytic sky-motion formula applied to synthetic interstellar object populations indicates that high velocities, particularly for dim objects, may cause many to go undetected, implying a larger galactic population than currently observed.
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Assessment of the Mass Loss and Radius Change of 3I/ATLAS Based on Observed Production Rates
The paper estimates 3I/ATLAS lost 1.05-6.56 meters of surface material (0.10-1.13% of its mass, or 10^9-10^10 kg) during its solar system passage based on observed production rates.