In a breakthrough that has excited the global astronomy community, scientists have detected a wobbling high-latitude jet emission from the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, marking the first time such a phenomenon has been observed in a comet originating outside our solar system.
The discovery, detailed in a recent preprint study, reveals that 3I/ATLAS is releasing powerful jets of gas and dust as it travels through space. These emissions appear to wobble, suggesting complex internal dynamics and possibly unique structural features within the comet’s nucleus. Researchers believe this behavior could provide vital clues about the composition and evolution of interstellar objects.
Comet 3I/ATLAS was first identified in 2020 as the second known interstellar comet after 2I/Borisov. Unlike typical solar system comets, interstellar comets originate from beyond the Sun’s gravitational influence, offering rare opportunities to study material formed in distant star systems. The newly detected jet adds another layer of intrigue, as it challenges existing models of cometary activity.
Dr. Satoru Murata, one of the lead researchers, explained: “The wobbling jet indicates that 3I/ATLAS may have an irregular rotation or internal structure that drives this unusual emission pattern. Understanding it could reshape our knowledge of how comets behave in different stellar environments.”
The finding comes at a time when astronomers are increasingly focused on interstellar visitors. These objects, though rare, provide direct evidence of planetary system formation beyond our own. The study of 3I/ATLAS’s jet could also help refine techniques for detecting and analysing future interstellar bodies.
