A Strange Interstellar Chemistry
Comet 3I/ATLAS is unusual even beyond its origin. Scientists detected unexpected nickel vapor when the comet was far from the sun—at a distance where such vapor shouldn’t exist.
NASA lead scientist Tom Statler explained:
“It’s evaporating more carbon dioxide compared to water. That’s really interesting, really remarkable.”
Statler also noted:
“We’re finding that 3I/ATLAS is putting out more nickel than iron, for reasons not yet understood.”
A Spacecraft Tag-Team Across the Solar System
NASA’s fleet has provided a panoramic view of the comet:
- Psyche captured images from 33 million miles away
- Lucy photographed its tail from 40 million miles away
- MAVEN and ExoMars observed its Mars flyby
- SOHO, Parker Solar Probe, STEREO, PUNCH, and TESS all recorded distant views
“You do not get these views unless you have spacecraft farther from the sun than the comet,” Statler said.
