Questions3I/ATLASWhy did nickel vapour appear around 3I/ATLAS without iron, so far from the Sun?Answer
Answer · 3I/ATLAS
Metal carbonyls sublimating from the nucleus
The nickel and iron came from metal carbonyls, nickel tetracarbonyl and iron pentacarbonyl, which sublimate at low temperature and release the atoms in the coma.
Where it stands
Still possibleTwo pieces of evidence for, none against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.
What it predicts
- Nickel and iron production tracks CO production
- Nickel is more centrally concentrated than CN
What would rule it out
- Metal production that does not follow CO across the orbit
Evidence 2 for · none against
After perihelion the metals follow CO
FORSuggestive
FOR
The questions it answers
Open2 answers, none ahead
Cite it
Mysteries Department. (2026). Metal carbonyls sublimating from the nucleus [Answer ANS0DFQ187PJFP2]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0DFQ187PJFP2
@misc{mysteriesdept_ans0dfq187pjfp2,
title = {Metal carbonyls sublimating from the nucleus},
author = {{Mysteries Department}},
year = {2026},
note = {Answer, catalog key ANS0DFQ187PJFP2},
url = {https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0DFQ187PJFP2}
}