Preprint: Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS brightened while its colors stayed nearly unchanged
A study of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS during its inbound, pre-perihelion passage found steady red optical colors, consistent brightening, a persistent sunward jet and an antisolar tail. Spectra clearly detected CN, while evidence for C2 and C3 remained at upper-limit level. Dust-composition and water-ice conclusions remain model-dependent.
T. Santana-Ros et al 2026, ApJ, 1007, 1824 min read