After the temporary shutdown of the US government, NASA has finally started its nonessential work back up. It's starting off with a bang: The agency called a press conference to show its hitherto reserved images of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS. NASA scientists also confirmed that 3I/ATLAS is in fact a comet, contrary to the speculations about alien technology flooding the internet.
During the broadcast, a panel of scientists showed the results of observations obtained by different NASA missions across various points in the journey 3I/ATLAS has taken. Each provided insights in the infrared, visible, ultraviolet, and gamma-ray spectrums, providing a better understanding of the true nature of 3I/ATLAS.
Among the most relevant data are images captured by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and MAVEN satellites, as well as those from the Psyche and Lucy space probes, and even from the SOHO solar probe. The scientists clarified that all the data will be publicly available for anyone to investigate.
3I/ATLAS Images Shared by NASA
The shape of 3I/ATLAS as seen by the SOHO solar probe. Lowell Observatory/Qicheng Zhang/NASA
SOHO: Image From the Sun-Monitoring Probe
This orange-toned photo comes from NASA. The SOHO probe that monitors the sun managed to capture 3I/ATLAS between October 15 and 26. In the words of the agency, this image was a surprise. They did not expect that the object could be seen from so far away, 358 million km.
3I/ATLAS as seen from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. NASA
MRO: One of the Best Close-Ups of 3I/ATLAS
One of the most anticipated photos of the comet is the one obtained by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter satellite in October, when 3I/ATLAS approached at "only" 29 million km. NASA finally shared it. The image shows the frozen body surrounded by a cloud of characteristic dust ejected as the comet approached the sun.
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