Mon Dec 15 12:50:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summarized news article based on the provided text:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gemini North Captures Post-Solar Encounter Images of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS, Reveals Greenish Glow

Maunakea, Hawai’i – December 12, 2025 – Astronomers using the Gemini North telescope on Maunakea have obtained new images of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS after its recent passage behind the Sun. The observations, made on November 26th, 2025, reveal changes in the comet’s appearance, including a distinctive greenish glow.

The data was gathered as part of a “Shadow the Scientists” session, a unique outreach program that allows students worldwide to participate in real astronomical observations alongside researchers. The program, led by Bryce Bolin, a research scientist from Eureka Scientific, involved taking images of the comet using the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) through four different color filters.

The new images show that 3I/ATLAS, the third interstellar object ever detected, now exhibits a greenish hue. This color shift is attributed to the emission of light from diatomic carbon (C2) gas evaporating from the comet’s coma as it heats up from solar radiation. Previous images showed a redder hue.

Scientists will continue to monitor 3I/ATLAS as it moves away from the Sun to observe how its behavior changes as it cools down, including possible delayed reactions in chemical evaporation or comet outbursts. These studies aim to understand more about the composition and behavior of interstellar objects.

“Sharing an observing experience in some of the best conditions available gives the public a truly front-row view of our interstellar visitor,” says Bolin.

The “Shadow the Scientists” initiative, supported by the Creating Equity in STEAM (CrEST) program at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and the Heising-Simons Foundation, aims to engage the public in authentic scientific research. All data from the observing session is available for download from the Gemini Archive.

Gemini North is part of the International Gemini Observatory, operated by NSF NOIRLab.

About NSF NOIRLab:

NSF NOIRLab is the U.S. national center for ground-based, nighttime optical astronomy, operating facilities including the International Gemini Observatory, Kitt Peak National Observatory, and Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory. NOIRLab is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF).

Acknowledgements:

The scientific community recognizes and acknowledges the cultural significance of I’oligam Du’ag (Kitt Peak) to the Tohono O’odham Nation, and Maunakea to the Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiians) community.

Contact:

Josie Fenske
Public Information Officer
NSF NOIRLab
josie.fenske@noirlab.edu
+1 520 318 8000

Read More