3I/ATLAS Shows Signs of Ice Volcano Eruption

The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS recently passed its closest point to the Sun, known as perihelion, earlier this year. During this passage, it released vast amounts of ice and dust, creating impressive jets extending like a tail, as well as an unusual "anti-tail" pointing toward the Sun. Astronomers suggest the surface of 3I/ATLAS may feature erupting "ice volcanoes," a process resembling the activity seen on some distant planetary bodies, according to Live Science.

Researchers propose that 3I/ATLAS shares unexpected similarities with trans-Neptunian objects, icy and rocky bodies originating from the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune. "We were all surprised," said Josep Trigo-Rodrguez, lead author of a study yet to be peer-reviewed and a researcher at Spain's Institute of Space Sciences. "Although this comet formed in a far-off planetary system, its surface composition resembles that of bodies formed at great distances within our own solar system."

Trigo-Rodrguez and his team utilized the Joan Or Telescope at the Montsec Observatory in Spain to observe 3I/ATLAS during its perihelion in late October. At this point, comets generally release the most material due to solar heating. The observations captured detailed images of gas and dust jets, indicating signs of cryovolcanisma process where internal heat drives ice to sublimate and erupt into space.

Similar cryovolcanic activity is often observed on trans-Neptunian objects. The researchers hypothesize that sublimating carbon dioxide ice within 3I/ATLAS may interact with metals like nickel and iron sulfides in its core, triggering oxidation reactions that power the observed eruptions.

Despite these insights, many questions remain. The object's mass is still uncertain, with estimates ranging from 1,400 feet to 3.5 miles in diameter. Interstellar objects like 3I/ATLAS provide rare opportunities to study materials from other planetary systems.

3I/ATLAS is anticipated to make its closest approach to Earth later this month and to Jupiter in March 2026. Trigo-Rodrguez and colleagues emphasized, "Interstellar visitors like 3I/ATLAS challenge and refine our understanding of planetary system formation and the chemical evolution of small bodies. Each newly discovered object reveals unexpected properties that test and expand existing models."

The team further noted, "Future missions to intercept and directly sample these rare interstellar messengers will be essential to unlock the records they carry from distant planetary systems."

Additional observation: 3I/ATLAS has been reported to display a subtle pulsing pattern, described as a 'heartbeat' in its activity, adding to its intriguing and mysterious nature.

Author: Sophia Brooks