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Astronomers report that comet 3I/ATLAS has flipped its tail to point away from the Sun, after a rare sunward anti‑tail seen in July–August 2025. Nordic Optical Telescope data confirm the anti‑tail vanished by September. Researchers say dust and ices respond differently to sunlight: far out, CO2‑driven jets pushed large grains sunward; nearer the Sun, water‑ice activity drives a classic tail. NASA instruments measured about 330 pounds per second of mass loss, mostly carbon dioxide. Ground‑based views are blocked through October as 3I/ATLAS passes behind the Sun. Most scientists call it a natural comet, despite Avi Loeb’s speculation.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.