Comet 3I/ATLAS reached perihelion on October 30, 2025. This article details the findings from observations of this interstellar comet, including its composition, activity, and orbital behavior, and how this data will inform future missions.
Scientists, including those at the SETI Institute, observed the comet and gathered data on its origin, composition, and trajectory.
Key findings include an unusual prevalence of carbon dioxide over water ice, a nickel-to-iron ratio differing from Solar System comets, and a brightening event near perihelion
Thpe data collected will be valuable for future missions like ESA’s Comet Interceptor, preparing scientists to study future interstellar visitors. The article highlights the role of citizen scientists through the Unistellar Network in contributing to these observations.
Scientists, including those at the SETI Institute, observed the comet and gathered data on its origin, composition, and trajectory.
Key findings include an unusual prevalence of carbon dioxide over water ice, a nickel-to-iron ratio differing from Solar System comets, and a brightening event near perihelion
Thpe data collected will be valuable for future missions like ESA’s Comet Interceptor, preparing scientists to study future interstellar visitors. The article highlights the role of citizen scientists through the Unistellar Network in contributing to these observations.
Astronomers using Webb's MIRI instrument have directly imaged Epsilon Indi Ab, a gas giant several times the mass of Jupiter located around 12 light-years away from Earth. This is one of the coldest exoplanets to be directly detected, with an estimated temperature of 2 degrees Celsius.
Epsilon Indi is a nearby star system, notable for hosting a binary brown dwarf system, Epsilon Indi B. The system is discussed in detail, including its properties, the characteristics of the brown dwarfs, and the implications for understanding stellar evolution.
