A new image from the Virtual Telescope Project shows interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS with a longer, more structured ion tail that unusually appears to curve along its orbital path. Physicist Avi Loeb, who has monitored the comet, described it as "at least a thousand times more massive" than prior interstellar visitors and reported seeing what looked like seven jets. The object, the third confirmed interstellar visitor discovered by ATLAS, is expected to make a close approach to Earth in December and will be closely observed by astronomers.
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Develops Longer, Curving Ion Tail — Scientist Reports Seven Jets
A new image from the Virtual Telescope Project shows interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS with a longer, more structured ion tail that unusually appears to curve along its orbital path. Physicist Avi Loeb, who has monitored the comet, described it as "at least a thousand times more massive" than prior interstellar visitors and reported seeing what looked like seven jets. The object, the third confirmed interstellar visitor discovered by ATLAS, is expected to make a close approach to Earth in December and will be closely observed by astronomers.
11:00 AM, 11/13/2025Science
New Image Shows Unusual Tail on Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS
A recent image from the Virtual Telescope Project reveals that the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS has developed a longer, more structured ion tail as it continues through the inner solar system. The photograph, taken on Monday, highlights details that make this visitor stand out from previously observed interstellar objects.
What is an ion tail?
An ion tail forms when the Sun’s ultraviolet light strips electrons from gases released by the comet, producing charged ions. Those ions are then carried away by the solar wind, usually forming a straight tail that points roughly away from the Sun regardless of the comet’s direction of travel.
Why 3I/ATLAS is unusual
Unlike a typical ion tail, 3I/ATLAS’s tail appears to curve along the comet’s orbital path rather than pointing strictly anti-sunward. Physicist Avi Loeb, who has been tracking the object for months, told NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas that the tail’s shape is atypical and that the comet’s trajectory through the Milky Way and its apparent size are notable.
“It’s at least a thousand times more massive than the previous interstellar objects we’ve seen,” Loeb said, noting that this estimate raises questions about why a comparatively large interstellar body would arrive in our inner solar system when earlier visitors were much smaller.
Loeb also reported seeing what looked like seven jets of material emanating from the comet during its passage near the Sun. If confirmed, multiple jets could help explain localized activity and complex tail structure, but the observation will require further study and independent confirmation.
Designation and outlook
The designation 3I/ATLAS indicates that this is the third confirmed interstellar object to enter our solar system and that it was discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). Observers expect 3I/ATLAS to make a close approach to Earth in December; current projections do not indicate a threat to our planet, but the passage will be monitored closely by astronomers.
Note: Statements about the comet’s mass and jet structure are based on observations and comments from researchers; further analysis and peer-reviewed studies will refine these findings.