ATLAS Photometry of Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS

Abstract We present calibrated Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) photometry of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1) from March 28 through 2025 August 29, obtained with the five-site, robotic ATLAS network in the c (420–650 nm), o (560–820 nm), and Teide w (420–720 nm) bands. Stacked difference images yield reliable light curves measured in four fixed apertures that capture the evolving coma. We observe 3I/ATLAS transitioning in color from red ( c − o ) ≈ 0.7 before MJD 60860 to near-solar ( c − o ) ≈ 0.3 after MJD 60870, coincident with the appearance of a prominent antisolar tail. The absolute magnitude curve H ( t ) shows a slope break near MJD 60890 at r ∼ 3.3 au from −0.035 to −0.012 mag day −1 , or in terms of coma cross section as a function of heliocentric distance, r −3.9 to r −1.1 . We release the aperture photometry with geometry and uncertainties to enable cross-instrument synthesis of 3I/ATLAS activity and color evolution.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Published
2025-12-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ae1f12
Citations
5
Primary Topic
Astro and Planetary Science
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
5.77

Funders

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article

ATLAS Photometry of Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS

A. Fitzsimmons, J. Licandro, Nicolas Erasmus, K. J. Meech et al.
5 citations
The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Astro and Planetary Science
5.77
article

ATLAS Photometry of Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS

A. Fitzsimmons, J. Licandro, Nicolas Erasmus, K. J. Meech, H. Weiland, J. Tonry, A. Clocchiatti, Robert J. Siverd, M. R. Alarcón, L. Denneau
article en
5 citations

Abstract

Abstract We present calibrated Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) photometry of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1) from March 28 through 2025 August 29, obtained with the five-site, robotic ATLAS network in the c (420–650 nm), o (560–820 nm), and Teide w (420–720 nm) bands. Stacked difference images yield reliable light curves measured in four fixed apertures that capture the evolving coma. We observe 3I/ATLAS transitioning in color from red ( c − o ) ≈ 0.7 before MJD 60860 to near-solar ( c − o ) ≈ 0.3 after MJD 60870, coincident with the appearance of a prominent antisolar tail. The absolute magnitude curve H ( t ) shows a slope break near MJD 60890 at r ∼ 3.3 au from −0.035 to −0.012 mag day −1 , or in terms of coma cross section as a function of heliocentric distance, r −3.9 to r −1.1 . We release the aperture photometry with geometry and uncertainties to enable cross-instrument synthesis of 3I/ATLAS activity and color evolution.

The Astrophysical Journal LettersVol. 995(1)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Space Telescope Science Institute, European Commission, Queen's University Belfast, Queen's University, Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo
Openalex Percentile: Top 4%
Astro and Planetary Science
5.77
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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ATLAS Photometry of Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS — A. Fitzsimmons, J. Licandro, et al. · The Astrophysical Journal Letters (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS