NASA’s Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) has recently made significant observations of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS. This mission, which aims to conduct an all-sky survey over two years, has the potential to enhance our understanding of the origins and evolution of the universe. SPHEREx’s observations of 3I/ATLAS come as this third interstellar object detected in our Solar System emerges from behind the Sun.
In December 2022, SPHEREx utilized its advanced triple-mirror telescope to capture detailed images of 3I/ATLAS as it traveled toward the outer Solar System. The instrument’s capability to observe the sky in 102 different infrared (IR) wavelengths allowed it to gather unique data about this comet-like object. The images revealed the bright coma surrounding 3I/ATLAS, which forms as the object approaches the Sun and undergoes processes such as sublimation of water and other frozen volatiles.
The observations highlighted several key elements in the coma of 3I/ATLAS, including water vapor, carbon dioxide, dust, and organic molecules. These findings will assist scientists in understanding the object’s composition and how its ices respond to the Sun’s heat during its journey. The increased outgassing observed as 3I/ATLAS completed its closest pass to the Sun provides valuable insights into the materials locked within the object.
The SPHEREx mission team had eagerly anticipated the opportunity to observe 3I/ATLAS after it disappeared behind the Sun in late October 2022. With SPHEREx and other missions currently capable of studying the object, astronomers aim to learn more about its origin and the system from which it came. The data collected may also contribute to the understanding of complex organic molecules (COMs) and their formation in the universe.
As SPHEREx continues its two-year mission to survey over 450 million galaxies and 100 million stars in the Milky Way, findings from its observations of 3I/ATLAS highlight the mission’s broader goal of unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos. The insights gained from these observations will be crucial for future research in astrophysics and planetary science, further illuminating the dynamics of interstellar objects.
This mission exemplifies how cutting-edge technology can expand our knowledge of not only our solar system but also the broader universe. Scientists anticipate that ongoing observations will continue to yield important information about 3I/ATLAS and its role in the cosmos.
