Wide Field Imager (IMAGE)

Southwest Research Institute

Wide Field Imager

Caption

A Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) project is using data from NASA’s Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) spacecraft to track the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. It tracked it for many weeks when it was behind the Sun as seen by Earth, making it difficult for other telescopes to follow it. PUNCH’s biggest advantages for observing such objects include its Wide Field Imager (pictured), which allows it to track comets for long periods as they move across the inner solar system.

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Southwest Research Institute

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