Falsifiable Predictions for 3I/ATLAS Jupiter Encounter (March 2026)

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Authors: Carlos Rodriguez
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Abstract

Pre-registered predictions for the 3I/ATLAS interstellar comet encounter with Jupiter's Hill sphere on March 16, 2026. This project establishes five independently falsifiable predictions before the event occurs: 1. Sunward jet intensity should decrease as r^(-n) where n > 2 2. Gravitational deflection should be exactly 224 ± 10 arcsec (Δv = 72 ± 5 m/s) 3. Non-gravitational acceleration should decrease 10-100× from perihelion values 4. Jets should activate/deactivate sharply with rotation-driven illumination 5. Polarization should evolve toward less negative values Quantitative thresholds distinguish natural cometary physics from potentially anomalous behavior. This pre-registration ensures predictions are documented before observations, enabling objective post-encounter evaluation. Contains: Full scientific paper (English) and working document (Spanish).

Fields of Study & Subjects

Astro and Planetary Science Stellar planetary and galactic studies Space Satellite Systems and Control

Publication details

Journal / source
Open Science Framework
Publication date
1 January 2026