One team member put it succinctly: “Think of it as a frozen time capsule firing microscopic rockets at random intervals.”
These deviations intensify as 3I/ATLAS approaches Jupiter’s orbital region, creating a rare natural experiment for researchers studying how interstellar objects respond to gravitational encounters with giant planets.
Why Jupiter Matters
Jupiter is the solar system’s gravitational powerhouse. Any object passing near its orbit becomes a probe of how giant planets shape planetary systems.
As 3I/ATLAS threads through Jupiter’s domain, its orbit becomes encoded with information about how similar gravitational interactions might have launched it out of its home system long ago.
Planetary scientist Dr. H. Levingston explained:
“Close passes with giant planets are one of the prime mechanisms for ejecting comets into interstellar space. 31/ATLAS may be telling us the story of its own birth as an interstellar wanderer.”
Jupiter also plays a practical role: its gravity influences where and when Earth-based telescopes can observe the comet. Accurate orbital predictions help astronomers schedule spectroscopic and imaging campaigns as the comet brightens and develops more structure.
Non-Gravitational Forces: The Comet’s ‘Puzzling’ Motion and Trajectory
Observers describe the comet’s motion as puzzling, but not inexplicable. As 3I/ATLAS rotates, jets of sublimating gas push the nucleus in small but measurable ways.
