NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory Observations of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1)
University of Washington · Northern Arizona University · +137 more institutions
Abstract
Abstract We report on the observation and measurement of astrometry, photometry, morphology, and activity of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, also designated C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) with the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory. Comet 3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar object, was discovered on UT 2025 July 1. Rubin Observatory had coincidentally collected images of the object’s region of the sky during routine commissioning. Facilitated by Rubin’s high resolution and large aperture, we successfully recovered object detections from Rubin observations spanning UT 2025 June 21 (10 days before discovery, when 3I/ATLAS was 4.5 au from the Sun) through the date of discovery, and we acquired additional images through UT…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 23.67
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- 99%
- References
- 0
Authors
306- COColin Orion ChandlerCorresponding
University of Washington, Northern Arizona University, Large Synoptic Survey Telescope Corporation
- PHPedro H. Bernardinelli
University of Washington
- MJMario Jurić
University of Washington
- DSDevanshi Singh
University of Washington
- HHHenry H. Hsieh
Planetary Science Institute, Institut de Mécanique Céleste et de Calcul des Éphémérides
Topics & keywords
- Observatory
- Photometry (optics)
- Comet
- Astrometry
- Sky
- Telescope
- Hubble space telescope
- Milky Way
Funding
- NSNational Science FoundationAwards: 2211468, AST-2303553, AST-1202910, 1202910, 1258333, 80NSSC21K0593, 2406527, 2307570, 2107800, AST-2107800, DE-AC02-76SF00515, 2241526, AST-2206194, AST-1258333, 2206194, DE-SC0011665, 2307569, AST-2307570, 2303553
- UDU.S. Department of DefenseAward: DE-AC02-76SF00515
- SISmithsonian Institution
- UDU.S. Department of EnergyAwards: 76SF00515, DE-SC0009999, DE-SC0023528, DE-SC0011665, DE-AC02, AC02-76SF00515, DE-1161130-116-SDDTA, DE-SC0010007, DE-SC0007881, DE-AC02-
- NANational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationAwards: 80NSSC22K1173, 80NSSC22K0239, 80NSSC22M0024, 62192, 80NSSC24K1187, 80NSSC22K0143, 80NSSC18K0987, 80NSSC21K0593, 80NSSC26K0380
- JTJohn Templeton FoundationAward: 62192
- WRWashington Research Foundation
- UOUniversity of Washington
- NZNew Zealand Government
- DFDepartment for the Economy
- RSRoyal Society Te Apārangi
- AOAcademy of FinlandAwards: 361233, 361233
- CNConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e TecnológicoAwards: 306691/2022-1, 316604/2023-2, 305917/2019-6
- NRNational Research Foundation of KoreaAwards: 2022R1A2C1003130, RS-2023-00219959
- FCFundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de JaneiroAwards: E-26/, E-26/200, PDR-10 E-26/200.107/2025, 201.681/2019, PDR-10, 200.108/2025
- MDMinisterio de Ciencia e InnovaciónAward: PID2020-120464GB-100
- FDFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas GeraisAward: APQ-02987-24
- NKNemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs HivatalAwards: SNN-147362, 4000137122
- SFScience Fund of the Republic of Serbia
- UNU.S. Navy
- SAScience and Technology Facilities CouncilAwards: ST/V000691/1, ST/X001253/1, DE-AC02-76SF00515
- NRNational Research, Development and Innovation Office
- DODivision of Astronomical SciencesAward: AST-1202910
- UNU.S. Naval Academy
- SNSLAC National Accelerator LaboratoryAwards: AC02-76SF00515, DE-AC02-76SF00515