A new December image suggests 3I/ATLAS may be evolving in ways that defy ordinary comet behavior.
By Samuel Lopez | USA Herald – The latest high-resolution image of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, captured by astronomer Efraín Morales on December 13, 2025, presents a subtle but consequential shift in the object’s appearance. Taken using an LX200ACF 305mm optical tube assembly with Astronomik LRGB filters and a cooled CMOS camera, the frame shows 3I/ATLAS moving rapidly across the star field, evidenced by pronounced background star streaking. Against that motion, the object itself appears surprisingly stable—its nucleus compact, its surrounding coma smooth, and its overall coloration noticeably muted compared to earlier green-tinted observations.
What stands out immediately is what is no longer present. The vivid green glow commonly associated with diatomic carbon emissions in typical comets has faded. In its place is a pale, almost golden hue, suggesting a change in dominant emission processes or dust-to-gas ratios.
