What unusual jet pattern was observed regarding 3I/ATLAS's outgassing?
Answer
Weird wobbling jets
A key perplexing puzzle presented by 3I/ATLAS was the appearance of its jets when observed from a specific orientation relative to Earth and the Sun. Observers noted these features were characterized as 'weird wobbling jets.' This distinct asymmetry in the outgassing suggests underlying physical irregularities within the comet's nucleus, potentially indicating that it might not be spinning uniformly, or that specific surface fissures are acting as primary sublimation sites, leading to an erratic structure in the resulting tail formation, which differs from the more predictable patterns seen in native solar system comets.
#Videos
Newly-discovered 3I/ATLAS comet makes closest approach to Earth
Related Questions
What defines the orbital path of interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS?What system first spotted 3I/ATLAS in 2019?What unusual jet pattern was observed regarding 3I/ATLAS's outgassing?Which object is the second confirmed interstellar visitor besides 'Oumuamua and 3I/ATLAS?What does 3I/ATLAS's hyperbolic path confirm about its origin?Why was the initial classification of 3I/ATLAS potentially questioned?Around December 19th, how close did 3I/ATLAS pass Earth?What activity confirmed 3I/ATLAS's classification as a true comet?What primary observation marker is associated with 'Oumuamua?What conclusion is suggested by detecting three interstellar objects quickly?