September 28
Long-Term Comet Monitoring with Citizen Science: Insights from 3I/ATLAS and 103P
Speaker: Ariel Graykowski, SETI
Abstract: Using observations from the global Unistellar citizen science network, we monitor cometary activity over long timescales, revealing both gradual evolutionary trends and ephemeral events. In this talk, I will present results from a global observing campaign that followed 3I/ATLAS throughout its 2025–2026 apparition, combining professional observations with those obtained by citizen astronomers. This coordinated effort provided dense temporal coverage across the comet’s pre- and post-perihelion evolution, allowing us to investigate its broadband colors over nearly nine months. I will also highlight how long-term observations of comet 103P/Hartley 2 across multiple apparitions have allowed us to track its continued decline in activity.
Host: Ben Sharkey