Why 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1) Is Classified as an Interstellar Comet


 


The physical classification of interstellar objects requires evidence beyond orbital dynamics alone.
For 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1), observational signatures clearly support its identification as an interstellar comet.

Full text (open access):
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/398431066

Although a hyperbolic orbit establishes the interstellar origin of 3I/ATLAS, its cometary classification is grounded in direct physical observations. High-resolution imaging and point-spread-function analysis reveal a resolved coma surrounding the nucleus, a definitive indicator of active volatile sublimation. This distinguishes 3I/ATLAS from purely inert interstellar bodies and aligns it with the physical behavior expected of cometary nuclei exposed to increasing solar insolation.

The activity observed in 3I/ATLAS is moderate when compared to previously detected interstellar objects. Unlike 1I/‘Oumuamua, which exhibited no detectable coma, and 2I/Borisov, which displayed strong volatile-driven activity, 3I/ATLAS occupies an intermediate regime. This level of activity suggests partial volatile depletion or formation within a colder, more distant region of its parent protoplanetary disk. Such characteristics provide valuable constraints on thermal processing and compositional diversity in extrasolar planetesimals.

The designation of 3I/ATLAS as a comet also has important implications for interstellar object taxonomy. It demonstrates that cometary activity among interstellar visitors is not binary but exists along a spectrum, shaped by formation environment, ejection history, and thermal evolution. As additional interstellar objects are discovered, physical classification based on coma detection, gas production rates, and dust morphology will remain essential for distinguishing between asteroid-like and comet-like interstellar bodies.

This article examines:

  • The observational evidence supporting the cometary nature of 3I/ATLAS
  • How coma detection and activity levels define interstellar comet classification
  • Why intermediate activity is scientifically significant for extrasolar studies
  • The role of physical properties in refining interstellar object taxonomy

Reference (APA 7):
Kodiyatar, N., & Shamala, A. (2025). Scientific understanding of 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1): Authentic data, observational insights, and information ethics. Nohil Kodiyatar & Abhay Shamala. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17851223

#InterstellarObjects #3IATLAS #InterstellarComets #PlanetaryScience #Astrophysics #ObservationalAstronomy #ComparativePlanetology #OpenScience


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