Interstellar Visitor 3I/ATLAS Exhibits Bizarre Sunward-Facing Tail, Defying Conventional Comet Behavior
The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS continues to puzzle scientists with a newly observed sunward-facing “anti-tail” that defies typical comet behavior. Observations from the Keck II telescope reveal anomalous outgassing patterns that contradict expectations for solar system comets. Researchers suggest multiple explanations for the phenomenon while acknowledging the object’s increasingly unusual characteristics.
Mysterious Sunward Extension
Astronomers observing interstellar object 3I/ATLAS have documented a perplexing phenomenon—a tendril-like structure extending toward the Sun, contrary to all conventional comet behavior. According to reports from the Keck II telescope in Hawaii, the object displayed what sources describe as “a puzzling anti-tail extension in the direction of the Sun” during August observations. The finding challenges established understanding of how comets interact with solar radiation and solar wind.