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arXiv · 2601.17083

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

Goldy Ahuja·Shashikiran Ganesh
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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.

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Goldy Ahuja, Shashikiran Ganesh. 2026-01-23. Effect of different Non-Gravitational accelerations on the trajectory of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS. https://doi.org/10.3847/2515-5172%2Fae3c09

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