The Jetting Phenomenon Explained
The new images show the comet’s nucleus — the solid icy core — surrounded by a glowing coma, or atmosphere. The purple jet extending toward the Sun spans roughly 6,200 miles (10,000 km), more than twice the width of the continental United States.
When comets like 3I/ATLAS approach the Sun, solar heat warms specific regions of the surface, releasing gases trapped beneath. These sublimated gases, often rich in carbon dioxide and dust, burst outward through weaker areas, creating the spectacular jets scientists can observe from Earth.
Serra-Ricart estimated the jet’s distance and composition, noting, “It’s likely made up of carbon dioxide and dust particles — similar to what NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope observed earlier this year.”
Interstellar Comet Tail
As the comet rotates, its jet may fan out and spread material into its coma and tail — a behavior also seen in solar system comets such as C/2020 F3 NEOWISE, famously visible to the naked eye in 2020. These jets provide valuable insight into how icy bodies from other star systems behave and how they differ from those formed in our own.
While a few fringe researchers speculate that 3I/ATLAS could be an alien probe, most astronomers agree the comet is behaving exactly as expected for a natural interstellar visitor. The new imagery strengthens that view, revealing nothing unusual beyond its breathtaking activity.
