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Effect of different Non-Gravitational accelerations on the trajectory of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

Goldy Ahuja, Shashikiran Ganesh

TL;DR

This paper evaluates how different non-gravitational accelerations influence the outbound trajectory of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. It integrates updated NG parameters from Horizons for a CO$_2$-dominated coma and contrasts them with symmetric and asymmetric H$_2$O sublimation models from Find_Orb, using 500 clones and the Marsden formalism $F_i = A_i g(r)$ with appropriate $g(r)$. The results show perijove distances clustered around $0.3582$–$0.3588$ au across NG models, with Horizons’ CO$_2$ case yielding $0.35833$–$0.35834$ au, and all clone trajectories staying outside Jupiter's Hill radius ($0.355$ au) when updated astrometry is used. This improves the reliability of Jupiter-encounter predictions for 3I/ATLAS and informs long-term trajectory assessments of interstellar visitors.

Abstract

Comet C/2025 N1 or 3I/ATLAS is the third confirmed interstellar object. It has passed perihelion on 2025 October 29, and is currently on a path to leave the solar system. During its outbound journey, it will pass close to Jupiter at a distance of 0.358 au. NASA JPL \textsc{Horizons} has updated the non-gravitational parameters of the comet based on the CO$_2$ sublimation model, where $g(r)= 1/r^2$. In this research note, we use the non-gravitational accelerations from \textsc{Horizons} together with symmetric and asymmetric H$_2$O sublimation models derived using \texttt{Find\_Orb} software. We calculate the resulting perijove distances and compare them with our earlier results at epoch JD 2460867.5.

Effect of different Non-Gravitational accelerations on the trajectory of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

TL;DR

This paper evaluates how different non-gravitational accelerations influence the outbound trajectory of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. It integrates updated NG parameters from Horizons for a CO-dominated coma and contrasts them with symmetric and asymmetric HO sublimation models from Find_Orb, using 500 clones and the Marsden formalism with appropriate . The results show perijove distances clustered around – au across NG models, with Horizons’ CO case yielding – au, and all clone trajectories staying outside Jupiter's Hill radius ( au) when updated astrometry is used. This improves the reliability of Jupiter-encounter predictions for 3I/ATLAS and informs long-term trajectory assessments of interstellar visitors.

Abstract

Comet C/2025 N1 or 3I/ATLAS is the third confirmed interstellar object. It has passed perihelion on 2025 October 29, and is currently on a path to leave the solar system. During its outbound journey, it will pass close to Jupiter at a distance of 0.358 au. NASA JPL \textsc{Horizons} has updated the non-gravitational parameters of the comet based on the CO sublimation model, where . In this research note, we use the non-gravitational accelerations from \textsc{Horizons} together with symmetric and asymmetric HO sublimation models derived using \texttt{Find\_Orb} software. We calculate the resulting perijove distances and compare them with our earlier results at epoch JD 2460867.5.
Paper Structure (3 sections, 2 equations, 1 figure)

This paper contains 3 sections, 2 equations, 1 figure.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Methodology
  3. Results

Figures (1)

  • Figure 1: Histogram of the perijove distances of 500 clones under different sublimation models. The Hill radius of Jupiter (not shown) is 0.355 au.