Multi-band photometry and Monte Carlo modeling of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS yield a dust size distribution with power-law index -3.5 and a phase curve showing opposition surge of 0.1-0.4 mag distinct from Solar System comets.
Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Observed from Mars by China's Tianwen-1 Spacecraft
1 Pith paper cite this work. Polarity classification is still indexing.
abstract
China's Tianwen-1 Mars orbiter successfully imaged the third interstellar object, 3I/ATLAS, during its close encounter with Mars using the onboard HiRIC CMOS camera. This is China's first deep-space observation of an astronomical object. These observations constitute the first imaging of this object from a vantage point significantly out of its orbital plane, providing a unique constraint on dust dynamics. Three observing epochs between 2025 September 30 and October 3 reveal clear changes in coma and tail morphology driven by the rapidly evolving viewing geometry. Comparison with Finson-Probstein dust dynamical models indicates that the coma is dominated by large grains with solar radiation pressure parameter $\beta \approx 10^{-3} $ - $10^{-2}$, corresponding to grain sizes of a few 100s $\mu$m. The extent of the sunward coma implies dust ejection velocities of $3$ - $10$ m s$^{-1}$. Despite the morphological evolution, the azimuthally averaged surface brightness profile remains nearly unchanged through the three epochs, transitioning from a radial slope near -1 close to the nucleus to slightly steeper than -1.5 at larger cometocentric distances, consistent with steady-state dust outflow accelerated by solar radiation pressure. Photometry yields an average $Af\rho \sim (2.0\pm0.2)\times10^4$ cm and a corresponding dust mass loss rate of $\dot{M} \sim 10^3$ kg s$^{-1}$.
fields
astro-ph.EP 1years
2026 1verdicts
UNVERDICTED 1representative citing papers
citing papers explorer
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Dust colour, phase behaviour, and Monte Carlo modelling of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS from 4 au pre- to 4 au post-perihelion
Multi-band photometry and Monte Carlo modeling of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS yield a dust size distribution with power-law index -3.5 and a phase curve showing opposition surge of 0.1-0.4 mag distinct from Solar System comets.