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Context:
The mysterious Manhattan-sized interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS has once again surprised scientists as new images appear to have no cometary tail in new images. Photographs taken by the R. Naves Observatory in Spain on Nov.
Discovery and Background:
- Name: 3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar object passing through our solar system.
- Discovery Date: July 1, 2025
- Discovering System: Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) – a US-based global early warning network with telescopes in the US, Chile, and South Africa.
Recent Observations:
- Shape & Color Changes: The object is changing shapes and emitting varying colors, causing confusion about its nature.
- Tail Missing: Latest images from R. Naves Observatory, Spain (Nov 5, 2025) show no visible cometary tail, contrary to expectations as it nears the Sun.
- Nature and Size: Interstellar object, roughly Manhattan-sized, Its trajectory and behavior are unusual, suggesting it is not a typical solar system comet.
- Comet: A comet is a small celestial body in the solar system made mostly of ice, dust, and rocky material. They are often called “dirty snowballs” because of their composition.
