3i/Atlas is only the third celestial object ever detected, following the interstellar asteroid 1i/Oumuamua in 2017 and the interstellar comet 2i/Borisov in 2019.
The 3i/Atlas is currently about 670 million km (420 million miles) from the Sun and is expected to make its closest approach in October 2025, moving just within Mars’ orbit.
It is estimated to be up to 20 km (12 miles) in diameter, traveling at around 60 km (37 miles) per second relative to the Sun.
This comet poses no threat to Earth, remaining within a distance of 240 million km (150 million miles), which is more than 1.5 times the distance between the Earth and the Sun.
3i/Atlas is an active comet. As it approaches the Sun, the heat causes frozen gases to turn into vapor, releasing dust and ice particles into space and initiating the formation of a glowing coma and tail.
However, by the time it reaches its closest point to Earth, it will be obscured by the Sun. It is expected to be visible again by early December 2025, providing astronomers with an opportunity for further research.
“Finding possible interstellar objects is extremely rare, and it’s thrilling to see the Atlas telescope catch this asteroid,” said a representative.
“These interstellar visitors allow us to glimpse something intriguing from solar systems beyond our own.”
“3i/Atlas is the largest ever observed, yet numerous such objects traverse our inner solar system each year.”
“The likelihood of an impact with Earth is minimal, occurring less than once in 10 million years, but Atlas is consistently scanning the sky for potentially hazardous objects.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4d-nqd1uwvy
Astronomers across Hawaii, Chile, and other nations are tracking the comet’s progression.
They seek to learn more about the composition and behavior of this interstellar visitor.
“It is precisely their foreign nature that makes interstellar objects like 3i/Atlas so remarkable,” an ESA astronomer stated.
“While all planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and life forms in our solar system share a common origin, our interstellar visitors are genuine outsiders.”
“They are remnants from other planetary systems, providing clues about the formation of worlds beyond our own.”
“It may take thousands of years before humans visit planets in another solar system, and interstellar comets give us the chance to stimulate our curiosity as we interact with something from another world.”
“These icy nomads offer a rare, tangible link to the broader galaxy. This material is fundamentally different from our own and is formed in unique environments.”
“Visiting such objects connects humanity with the universe on a grander scale.”
Source: www.sci.news
