{
  "abstract": "We report multiband photometric imaging observations and Monte Carlo dust tail modelling of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS covering a wide range of heliocentric distances, from about 4 au pre-perihelion to 4 au post-perihelion. The extensive imaging data set allowed us to constrain the dust physical properties, ejection speeds, and production rates as a function of heliocentric distance. The post-perihelion observations, obtained at high cadence in multiple photometric bands (SDSS g, r, i, and luminance filters) and spanning phase angles between approximately $0.7^\\circ$ and $30^\\circ$, enabled us to determine the dust colour and phase function. The resulting phase curve exhibits a prominent backscattering enhancement, distinct from those derived for Solar system comets, with an opposition surge of 0.1–0.4 mag, a width of 1–3$^\\circ$, and a linear phase coefficient of 0.02–0.04 mag deg$^{-1}$, consistent with independent pre-perihelion estimates. A possible interpretation of the imaging data, together with independent photometric measurements, indicates a dust size distribution characterized by a power-law index $\\kappa \\approx -3.5$, with minimum and maximum particle radii of $r_{\\min } = 10~\\mu \\mathrm{m}$ and $r_{\\max }$ in the interval 1–10 cm. The reported water production rate correlates well with the dust production rate post-perihelion, but fails to do so pre-perihelion, an effect possibly linked to the high CO$_2$/H$_2$O ratio measured before perihelion. The derived maximum dust-loss rate at perihelion is (0.5–$1.8)\\times 10^{4}$ kg s$^{-1}$.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Glorieta de la Astronomía s/n , E-18008 Granada ,",
    "Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, C/Vía Láctea s/n , E-38205 La Laguna, Tenerife ,",
    "Light Bridges, Observatorio Astronómico del Teide. Carretera del Observatorio del Teide , s/n, Güímar, E-38500 Tenerife ,",
    "Universidad de La Laguna, Avda. Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez Departamento de Astrofísica, , E-38206 La Laguna, Tenerife ,"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Fernando Moreno",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-0670-356X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Miquel Serra‐Ricart",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-2394-0711"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Javier Licandro",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9214-337X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "P. J. Gutiérrez",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7332-6269"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Luisa Maria Lara",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-7184-920X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Irene Mariblanca-Escalona",
      "orcid": "0009-0006-4860-696X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1,
        2,
        3
      ],
      "name": "M. R. Alarcón",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8134-2592"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1wpcgpnsnfmqj.bib",
  "cited_by": 10,
  "doi": "10.1093/mnras/stag1164",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "1wpcgpnsnfmqj",
  "issns": [
    "0035-8711",
    "1365-2966",
    "1365-8711"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stag1164",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1912|Astro and Planetary Science"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7165421086",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-06-18",
  "publisher": "Oxford University Press",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1wpcgpnsnfmqj.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-07T13:21:01Z",
      "native_id": "W7165421086",
      "source": "openalex",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stag1164"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "astronomy",
      "origin": "openalex:1912|Astro and Planetary Science",
      "subfield": "planetary"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Dust colour, phase behaviour, and Monte Carlo modelling of interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS from 4 au Pre- to 4 au post-perihelion",
  "title_text": "Dust colour, phase behaviour, and Monte Carlo modelling of interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS from 4 au Pre- to 4 au post-perihelion",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T13:21:19Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1wpcgpnsnfmqj",
  "venue": "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society",
  "versions": []
}