Witnessing an Interstellar Visitor: A Two-Frame Animation of Comet 3I/Atlas
It's not every day we get to witness an object from another star system gracing our skies. But on July 26, 2025, this became a reality with the passage of comet 3I/Atlas. I'm thrilled to share a two-frame animation capturing its swift movement across the star field.
This animation is the result of dedicated effort, with each frame being a meticulously stacked series of 15 individual 30-second exposures. The comet's rapid motion meant that approximately 25 minutes elapsed between each capture, a testament to its impressive velocity.
The Technical Details
The acquisition process involved an 8" Imaging Newtonian telescope paired with a 2600 MC Pro camera, all operated from the pristine darkness of a Bortle 2 site. To achieve the best possible field of view and light-gathering capabilities, the setup was reduced to an f/3 aperture using a Starizona Nexus 0.75 coma corrector/reducer.
Processing was carried out using PixInsight, with specialized tools like BXT employed for star correction and NXT for image cleanup, ensuring the fine details of the comet were brought to the forefront.
What We Can See
The images clearly reveal the comet's characteristic features: a distinct nucleus and a well-defined coma. The comet-like nature is undeniable, a true cosmic traveler.
Navigating the Celestial Path
For those interested in the specifics of capturing such a transient object, obtaining its coordinates can be a bit tricky. I found a reliable website to determine the precise coordinates and then manually input them into my NINA software for accurate targeting. The ASIAir app, while listing 3I/Atlas, presented some challenges with its GOTO function, leading to a crash on attempted selection.
A Rare Opportunity
Comet 3I/Atlas is a unique visitor, making a one-time journey through our solar system. Its visibility will continue to improve, becoming more easily observable from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres in November. For a deeper dive into its trajectory and the science behind it, I highly recommend checking out NASA's dedicated page:
Observing and capturing such a rare celestial event is a truly rewarding experience, and I hope this glimpse inspires others to look up and explore the wonders of our universe.
