A recent image of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS taken by the Hubble Space Telescope shows a glow of light ahead of its motion towards the Sun, sparking debate about whether it generates its own light. According to Dr. Avi Loeb, one of the researchers analyzing the data, the steep surface brightness profile of the glow is consistent with an alternative model where the dust outflow around 3I/ATLAS is illuminated by a central source.
If 3I/ATLAS generates its own light, it could be much smaller than initially thought, as it would not require a large amount of rocky material. The required luminosity for this scenario is estimated to be around 10 gigawatts, which is comparable to the energy output of a small nuclear reactor.
Dr. Loeb suggests that the nucleus of 3I/ATLAS could be producing most of the light, with the dust outflow playing a secondary role. He calculated that the nucleus would need to have an effective surface temperature below 1000 degrees Kelvin to produce this amount of light, which is consistent with the data.
The origin of the central light source is still unknown, but it’s possible that 3I/ATLAS could be powered by nuclear energy or even a rare fragment from a nearby supernova. Alternatively, it’s also possible that the object is being heated by friction on an ambient medium, although this model is currently ruled out due to the mass loss rate and ejection speed of dust.
The discovery of 3I/ATLAS has provided an excellent opportunity for scientists to study its properties and behavior, with upcoming observations planned for October 2025. As more data becomes available, we will gain a better understanding of this enigmatic object’s nature and whether it truly generates its own light source.
Source: https://avi-loeb.medium.com/does-3i-atlas-generate-its-own-light-e9775594afc5