In impressive speed that's approximately 100 times faster than a bullet, this comet holds the record as the fastest ever documented. Despite this breakneck pace, NASA successfully snapped a crystal-clear image. Here's the behind-the-scenes story.
The photographing technique used for comet 3I/ATLAS, a fast-moving celestial body traveling at 130,000 miles per hour or 209,215 kph, is reminiscent of the panning technique used in Earth photography to blur the background of fast-action photos. This method was employed by NASA to capture a sharp enough image of the comet, which moves at a speed 100 times faster than some bullets.
The challenge in photographing comet 3I/ATLAS lies in its high speed, making it a unique subject for astronomers. First discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in July 2025, the comet has the fastest velocity of any solar system visitor to date. It was first spotted on July 1 and is currently visible from Earth.
To allow the camera to follow the movement of the comet, NASA opted to use a single gyroscope, resulting in a sharper, more detailed image. The resulting photograph, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, provides researchers with a wealth of information about this speedy solar system visitor.
For high-speed capture similar to Hubble's work on comets, compact, cooled, fast-frame-rate monochrome cameras such as the ZWO ASI585MM Pro or QHY5III-678M excel by combining high sensitivity and rapid image acquisition. Full-frame mirrorless cameras like Canon EOS R6 Mark II or Nikon Z8 provide versatility and image quality for a wide range of astrophotography, including fast-moving comets, especially when paired with suitable optics and mounts.
The comet's speed and origin are still unknown, according to David Jewitt, the science team leader for the Hubble observations. The comet's rate of dust loss indicates that it may have originated 300 million miles from the sun, researchers estimate. The comet's speed suggests that it could be billions of years old.
Researchers now estimate that the comet's nucleus is between 1,000 feet (320 m) and 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) in diameter. The stars in the background of the image are streaked because the camera was moving in order to follow the quick-moving comet.
Hillary K. Grigonis, who leads the US coverage for Digital Camera World and has more than a decade of experience writing about cameras and technology, discusses the challenges and techniques involved in capturing high-speed celestial bodies like comet 3I/ATLAS. As a licensed drone pilot and a former Nikon shooter, currently using Fujifilm cameras and lenses, Grigonis offers valuable insights into the world of astrophotography.
The comet 3I/ATLAS is expected to be visible again on the other side of the sun around December. As researchers continue to study the comet until it passes too close to the sun to observe in September, they will undoubtedly uncover more secrets about this fascinating celestial visitor.
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