Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Exhibits Non-Gravitational Acceleration Due to Outgassing
Comet 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar visitor, is experiencing non-gravitational acceleration attributed to outgassing, leading to refined mass estimates.
Comet 3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar object to traverse our solar system, has exhibited non-gravitational acceleration as it approaches the Sun. This phenomenon is attributed to outgassing, where the comet's ices sublimate, releasing gas and dust that create jets, altering its trajectory.
Observations from Earth-based telescopes, the European Space Agency's Trace Gas Orbiter around Mars, and NASA's Psyche mission have measured an acceleration of approximately half a micron per second squared. This subtle force, consistent with natural cometary behavior, has enabled researchers to estimate the comet's mass more precisely.
Prior to its close approach to the Sun, 3I/ATLAS was estimated to have a mass of 44 million metric tons, with a nucleus diameter of about 375 meters (1,230 feet). These findings provide valuable insights into the physical characteristics of interstellar comets.