Helping Hands
3I/ATLAS Goes From Green to Gold — What Changed in the Sky?
Observers tracking 3I/ATLAS have noticed a striking visual shift: the comet’s glow appears to be changing from a vivid green to a warmer yellow-gold hue . This kind of color change is not cosmetic. It usually signals a real physical transition in what the comet is releasing into space as it moves and heats up. The green color commonly seen in comets comes from carbon-based gases , especially diatomic carbon , that fluoresce under sunlight. When a comet is colder or farther out, these gases dominate the coma and give it that classic emerald glow . As the object warms and becomes more active, heavier material begins to escape. Dust reflects sunlight more evenly across the spectrum, producing a yellow or golden appearance. In simple terms, gas dominance gives way to dust dominance. From a Platform 1 Fringe perspective, this transition matters because it suggests 3I/ATLAS is evolving rapidly rather than behaving like a static ice ball. A dust-rich phase can indicate structural changes, s...
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