On January 22, 2026, the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope captured stunning images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, showing it in near-perfect alignment with the Sun-Earth axis. This observation unveiled an unprecedented jet structure and an elongated tail.
This image of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS was captured by Hubble’s WFC3 instrument on January 22, 2026, at 13:10 UTC. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / Man Tu Hui, Shanghai Observatory.
According to researchers Professor Abraham Loeb from Harvard University and Dr. Mauro Barbieri from the INAF Padua Observatory, interstellar objects like 3I/ATLAS provide a rare opportunity to study materials from distant star systems. They detailed their findings in recent papers published in American Astronomical Society Research Notes.
Previous interstellar visitors such as 1I/Oumuamua lacked evidence of gas or dust, while 2I/Borisov was only observed at angles greater than 16 degrees from the Sun-Earth alignment, missing the chance for detailed study.
On January 22, 2026, comet 3I/ATLAS was positioned at an astonishingly small angle of just 0.69 degrees relative to the Earth-Sun axis, allowing for an optimal view as our planet passed nearly directly between the Sun and the comet.
This rare alignment caused a significant brightness spike, influenced by the composition and structure of the particles emitted from the 3I/ATLAS jet, as noted by Professor Loeb in the statement.
This image of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS was taken by Hubble’s WFC3 instrument on January 22, 2026, at 13:40 UTC. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / Man Tu Hui, Shanghai Observatory.
Astrophysicist Mang To Hui from the Shanghai Observatory utilized Hubble’s capabilities to observe 3I/ATLAS during conditions that may not occur again for decades.
The interstellar object images were gathered using Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) instrument, providing valuable data for ongoing research.
Professor Loeb elaborated on the findings, stating, “When the Hubble images from the January 22, 2026, alignment were processed by my collaborator Toni Scarmato, they revealed a system of four jets, including a prominent tail directed toward the Sun and Earth, along with three smaller ‘minijets.’”
“These minijets are spaced evenly apart at 120-degree angles, with one possibly hidden from view due to its unfavorable orientation relative to Earth, rendering it dark.”
Source: www.sci.news
