- P32B-07: Color Evolution of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Using Observations from the Unistellar Network
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Ariel Graykowski, SETI Institute (First Author, Presenting Author)
Franck Marchis, SETI Institute
Deekshit Vedula, Techtinium
Amaury Perrocheau, Ubotica Technologies
Comet 3I/ATLAS is only the third discovered object visiting our Solar System from another star. Since early July 2025, citizen astronomers using Unistellar’s smart telescopes (eVscopes) have been observing this rare interstellar visitor nearly every night. These small telescopes can measure how bright and colorful the comet is over time, even without traditional filters. Thanks to recent work calibrating these telescopes, we can now convert their images into standard color measurements used by professional astronomers. So far, 3I/ATLAS looks red, consistent with other dusty small bodies in the outer Solar System. But as the comet gets closer to the Sun, any solid surface ice will sublimate into gas form, which will cause a change in the color and brightness of the comet. By continuing to observe it nightly, the Unistellar Network may be able to pinpoint exactly when this activity begins and help scientists better understand the comet’s composition and behavior.
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