Jet and rotation period of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS

Processed images of the inner coma of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1) obtained during different nights with the TTT. Image processing allows us to identify a narrow jet of material emerging from the Sun-illuminated core area, clearly differentiated from the dust tail, which extends in the opposite direction. The superimposed lines indicate the orientation of the jet and allow us to infer the direction of the comet's axis of rotation. The arrows indicate the direction of the comet's movement and the antisolar direction, while the cross marks its centre. Credit: TTT (Light Bridges) / IAC

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Description

Processed images of the inner coma of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1) obtained during different nights with the TTT. Image processing allows us to identify a narrow jet of material emerging from the Sun-illuminated core area, clearly differentiated from the dust tail, which extends in the opposite direction. The superimposed lines indicate the orientation of the jet and allow us to infer the direction of the comet's axis of rotation. The arrows indicate the direction of the comet's movement and the antisolar direction, while the cross marks its centre. Credit: TTT (Light Bridges) / IAC