Astronomers utilizing ESA’s XMM-Newton observatory have captured an X-ray picture of 3I/ATLAS, the third confirmed interstellar object to be detected passing via the Photo voltaic System, following 1I/ʻOumuamua and 2I/Borisov.
This XMM-Newton picture exhibits an X-ray view of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. On the middle of the picture, a shiny purple spot stands out in opposition to a darkish background, like a fiery beacon. Ranging from this core, faint gradients of purple and blue unfold outward, making a barely rotated rectangular body, divided by a skinny horizontal line, the detector hole. The purple coloration exhibits low-energy X-rays, blue marks empty area with only a few X-rays. Picture credit score: ESA / XMM-Newton / C. Lisse / S. Cabot / XMM ISO Group.
On December 3, 2025, XMM-Newton noticed the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS for round 20 hours.
Throughout that point, the interstellar object was about 282-285 million km from the spacecraft.
XMM-Newton noticed the comet with its European Photon Imaging Digicam (EPIC)-PN digicam, its most delicate X-ray digicam.
“This XMM-Newton picture exhibits the comet glowing in low-energy X-rays: blue marks empty area with only a few X-rays, whereas purple highlights the comet’s X-ray glow,” members of the XMM-Newton group mentioned in a press release.
The astronomers anticipated to see this glow as a result of when gasoline molecules streaming from the comet collide with the photo voltaic wind, they produce X-rays.
“These X-rays can come from the interplay of the photo voltaic wind with gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, or carbon monoxide — which telescopes such because the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Area Telescope and NASA’s SPHEREx have already detected,” they mentioned.
“However they’re uniquely delicate to gases like hydrogen and nitrogen.”
“These are virtually invisible to optical and ultraviolet devices, such because the cameras on the NASA/ESA Hubble Area Telescope or ESA’s JUICE.”
“This makes X-ray observations a strong software,” they famous.
“They permit scientists to detect and research gases that different devices can’t simply spot.”
“A number of teams of scientists suppose that the primary detected interstellar object, 1I/‘Oumuamua, could have been product of unique ice like nitrogen or hydrogen.”
“Whereas 1I/‘Oumuamua is just too far-off now, 3I/ATLAS presents a brand new alternative to check an interstellar object, and observations in X-ray mild will complement different observations to assist scientists determine what it’s product of.”
