Tag Archives: 3iAtlas

Gemini North Telescope Captures Stunning New Images of Interstellar Comet 3I/Atlas

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Astronomers utilizing the Gemini North telescope at NSF’s International Gemini Observatory have observed the interstellar comet 3i/Atlas as it passes through our cosmic neighborhood.

This image from the Gemini North Telescope Multi-Object Spectrometer (GMOS-N) showcases the interstellar comet 3i/Atlas. Image credits: International Gemini Observatory/Noirlab/NSF/Aura/K. Meech, Ifa&U. Hawaii / Jen Miller & Mahdi Zamani, Noirlab.

Interstellar objects are those that emerge from and traverse beyond our solar system.

Ranging from several meters to a few kilometers in size, these cosmic fragments are remnants from the formation of the host star’s planetary system.

As they orbit their stars, interactions with the gravitational pull of nearby planets and stars can eject them into interstellar space, allowing them to traverse other solar systems.

Studying interstellar visitors provides critical insights into distant star systems.

They carry valuable information about chemical elements, including their formation timelines and locations, offering scientists glimpses into the formation of planetary systems throughout the history of the Milky Way galaxy.

3i/Atlas marks the third interstellar object discovered, following 1i/Oumuamua in 2017 and 2i/Borisov in 2019.

Astronomers suspect that numerous interstellar objects might regularly pass through our solar system, but capturing them is challenging as they are only visible when telescopes are oriented correctly at the right time.

Multiple teams worldwide utilize various telescopes to monitor 3i/Atlas during its brief visitation, enabling them to collectively assess its key properties.

While many aspects remain unknown, 3i/Atlas is already recognized as distinct in comparison to 1i/Oumuamua and 2i/Borisov.

Previous observations suggest that 3i/Atlas could have a diameter of up to 20 km (12 miles).

New comets typically exhibit highly eccentric orbits, which define how much the object’s path deviates from a perfect circle.

An eccentricity of 0 indicates a circular orbit, while 0.999 signifies a highly elongated ellipse.

Objects with an eccentricity greater than 1 follow paths that do not loop around the Sun and come from, then return to, interstellar space.

The eccentricity of 3i/Atlas is recorded at 6.2, classifying it as a highly hyperbolic interstellar object.

In contrast, “Oumuamua’s” eccentricity was around 1.2, and Borisov’s was about 3.6.

As of now, 3i/Atlas resides in Jupiter’s orbit, approximately 465 million km (290 million miles) from Earth and 600 million km (370 million miles) from the Sun.

On December 19, 2025, it will come within roughly 270 million km (170 million miles) of Earth, posing no threat to our planet.

The closest approach to the Sun will occur around October 30, 2025, at a distance of 210 million km (130 million miles).

During this close approach, it is expected to travel at about 25,000 km (15,500 miles) per hour.

The latest image of 3i/Atlas was obtained using the Gemini North Telescope Multi-Object Spectrometer (GMOS-N).

“The sensitivity and scheduling precision of the International Gemini Observatory played a critical role in observing this interstellar wanderer,” remarked Martin Still, NSF Program Director at the International Gemini Observatory.

“We eagerly anticipate the wealth of new data and insights as this object warms in sunlight before continuing its cold, dark journey through interstellar space.”

Source: www.sci.news

Astronomers Suggest 3i/Atlas Could Be the Most Ancient Comet Ever Observed

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Research conducted by astronomer Matthew Hopkins and his team at Oxford University suggests that 3i/Atlas, the second interstellar comet discovered near our solar system, may have been on its trajectory over 3 billion years ago.

Top view of the Milky Way displaying the predicted orbits of our Sun and 3i/Atlas. Comets are represented by dashed red lines, while the sun is indicated by a dashed yellow line. The comet’s route to the outer thick disc is mostly clear, whereas the sun remains close to the nucleus of the galaxy. Image credit: M. Hopkins / Otautahi Oxford Team / ESA / Gaia / DPAC / Stefan Payne-Wardenaar / CC-SA 4.0.

“All comets formed alongside our solar system, like Halley’s comets, are up to 4.5 billion years old,” Dr. Hopkins explained.

“In contrast, interstellar visitors can be significantly older. Our statistical analyses indicate that 3i/Atlas is very likely to be the oldest comet we’ve observed thus far.”

Unlike 1i/Oumuamua and 2i/Borisov, the two previous interstellar objects that passed through our solar system, 3i/Atlas appears to be on a more inclined path through the Milky Way.

A recent study forecasts that 3i/Atlas is likely to be rich in water ice, as it probably formed around the star of the ancient, thick disc.

“This is an aspect of the galaxy that we’ve never encountered before,” said Chris Lintot, a professor at Oxford University and host of The Sky at Night.

“I believe there is a two-thirds chance that this comet predates the solar system and has been drifting through interstellar space ever since.”

As it nears the Sun, the heat from sunlight activates 3i/Atlas, generating a coma and tail composed of steam and dust.

Initial observations indicate that the comet is already active and may even be larger than any of its interstellar predecessors.

If this is validated, it could influence the detection of similar objects by future telescopes, such as the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory.

Furthermore, it could offer insights into the role that ancient interstellar comets play in the formation of stars and planets throughout the galaxy.

“We’re in an exciting phase. 3i/Atlas is already displaying signs of activity,” remarked Dr. Michele Bannister, an astronomer at the University of Canterbury.

“The gases we might observe in the future, as 3i/Atlas is heated by the Sun, will help us evaluate our models.”

“Some of the world’s largest telescopes are currently monitoring this new interstellar entity. One of them may make a significant discovery!”

The astronomers presented their findings today at the National Astronomical Conference of the Royal Astronomical Society 2025 in Durham, England.

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Matthew Hopkins et al. Intergalactic interstellar object population in LSST. NAM 2025

Source: www.sci.news

VLT Reveals Stunning New Images of Interstellar Comet 3I/Atlas

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The astronomer utilizing ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (VLT) has unveiled a new image of 3i/Atlas, marking it as the third interstellar object documented.

This VLT/FORS2 image, captured on July 3, 2025, depicts interstellar comet 3i/Atlas. Image credit: ESO/O. Hainaut.

3i/Atlas was identified a week ago by the NASA-supported Atlas Survey Telescope in Riojartad, Chile.

Commonly referred to as C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) and A11PL3Z, this comet is approaching from the direction of Sagittarius.

“In contrast to objects within the solar system, its highly eccentric hyperbolic orbit indicates its interstellar origin,” ESO astronomers stated.

Currently, 3i/Atlas is approximately 4.5 AU (670 million km, or 416 million miles) away from the Sun.

Interstellar objects pose no danger to Earth, maintaining a distance of at least 1.6 AU (240 million km, or 150 million miles).

Around October 30, 2025, it will make its closest approach to the Sun at a distance of 1.4 AU (210 million km, or 130 million miles).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixj221xxpvm

“In the VLT time-lapse, you can observe 3i/Atlas moving to the right over approximately 13 minutes,” the astronomer remarked.

“These observations were gathered using FORS2 equipment at the VLT on the night of July 3, 2025, just two days post-discovery of the comet.”

“At the conclusion of the video, all frames are compiled into a single image.

“However, this record will not endure as the comet approaches Earth and becomes less visible.”

“As it currently traverses more than 600 million km from the Sun, 3i/Atlas is heading towards the inner solar system, expected to reach its closest approach to Earth in October 2025,” they noted.

“During that time, 3i/Atlas will be obscured by the Sun, but observations should resume in December 2025.

“Telescopes globally, including the VLT, will persist in monitoring this extraordinary celestial visitor to gather more insights into its structure, composition, and origin.”

Source: www.sci.news

Astronomers Monitor Interstellar Comet 3I/Atlas

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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.

Images of 3i/Atlas captured by the Atlas telescope. Image credit: University of Hawaii.

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

Astronomers Uncover Third Interstellar Object: 3I/ATLAS

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Following the interstellar asteroid 1i/Oumuamua and comet 2i/Borisov, 3i/Atlas is the third identified object and the second comet from outside the solar system.

This image was captured on July 2, 2025, with an Itemescope.net T72 telescope in Riojartad, Chile, depicting the interstellar comet 3i/Atlas. Image credit: Filipp Romanov/CC by-sa 4.0.

3i/Atlas was discovered by a NASA-funded research telescope dedicated to the Atlas (Asteroid Surface Impact Last Altar System) project on July 1, 2025, in Riojartad, Chile.

The interstellar comet approached from the direction of constellations and is currently about 670 million km (420 million miles) away.

“Since the initial report, pre-discovery observations have been gathered from archives of three different Atlas telescopes globally and from Zwicky’s transitional facility at Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, California,” a NASA astronomer wrote in a statement.

“These pre-discovery observations date back to June 14th, 2025.”

Known as 3I/ATLAS, C/2025 N1 (ATLAS), and A11PL3Z, it currently measures approximately 4.5 AU (670 million km, or 416 million miles) away.

Comets pose no threat to Earth, maintaining a safe distance of at least 1.6 AU (240 million km, or 150 million miles).

It is predicted to reach its closest approach to the Sun around October 30th, 2025, at a distance of 1.4 AU (210 million km, or 130 million miles).

Its size and physical characteristics are being studied by astronomers worldwide.

This diagram illustrates the trajectory of 3i/Atlas as it traverses the solar system. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.

If the brightness of 3i/Atlas is attributed to reflecting sunlight at a typical albedo of 10%, its diameter would be approximately 100-200 times greater than the estimated length of 20 km for Oumuamua and about 50-100 times larger than the estimated size of Borisov.

“If all three objects are indeed rocky, the mass of 3i/Atlas is more than 10 million times greater than that of Oumuamua and at least 100,000 times the core mass of Borisov.”

“This is remarkable because we expect high-mass objects to be exceedingly rare.”

“Based on data from the major asteroid belts of the solar system, we would expect millions of objects like Oumuamua for each object with the mass of 3i/Atlas.”

3i/Atlas should remain visible to ground telescopes until September 2025.

It is anticipated to reappear on the opposite side of the Sun by early December, enabling further observations.

“Based on its trajectory, 3i/Atlas seems to enter in a retrograde orbit, inclined at 175 degrees relative to Earth’s orbital plane from the thin disc of stars in the Milky Way,” explains Professor Roeb.

“In the upcoming months, we will gain further insights into the properties of 3i/Atlas based on data from various ground-based telescopes and the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, including the NSF/DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile.”

Source: www.sci.news

A11PL3Z: The Interstellar Comet 3i/Atlas Traversing Our Solar System

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Comet 3i/Atlas is the third interstellar object detected in the solar system

E. Guido, M. Rocchetto, J. Ferguson

Interstellar objects have been observed speeding through the solar system, prompting both amateur and professional astronomers globally to direct their telescopes toward them, refining their orbital models to confirm their status as visitors from other stars.

The comet was initially designated A11PL3Z and marks the third documented interstellar object. The first, ‘Oumuamua, was identified in October 2017, shortly after its closest approach to Earth. Its bizarre acceleration sparked numerous theories, including the possibility that it might be an alien spacecraft. The second interstellar object, Comet Borisov, was discovered in 2019, allowing for more extensive observations early in its journey through the solar system.

The A11PL3Z was first detected by NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). Earlier images of the object, once overlooked, were identified in data collected on June 14. New observations are underway in Chile and beyond through the Deep Random Survey. The Minor Planet Center—charged with the observation and reporting of such entities—has now officially named it 3I/ATLAS, acknowledging both its classification as the third interstellar object and the discoverers.

The object measures approximately 20 km wide and is estimated to move at around 60 km per second, gradually accelerating due to the sun’s gravitational pull. By October, it will reach its closest point to the Sun, passing within two astronomical units (twice the distance from Earth to the Sun) before swinging away and exiting our solar system.

The anticipated trajectory of 3i/Atlas marks its position as only the third interstellar object to be recorded in the solar system

CSS, D. Rankin

This creates a limited window for studying 3i/Atlas, although its visibility offers more time for observation compared to other interstellar entities. “They move through the solar system at astonishing speeds,” states Mark Norris from the University of Central Lancashire, UK. “It’s a race against time to learn as much as we can about them.”

Unfortunately, the technology needed to launch missions to intercept and investigate these celestial visitors remains out of reach, according to Norris. “Even if we started today, it would be too late,” he concludes. However, this may evolve soon, as the European Space Agency (ESA) aims to deploy a comet interceptor mission into space in 2029, where it will await encounters with newly discovered comets and interstellar bodies.

For now, astronomers must depend on existing telescopes to observe 3i/Atlas from a distance. “As we can track it until the end of the year, we have sufficient time to refine its trajectory, and there’s still time to focus the spectrometer on it,” mentions Richard Moisle. Our team is already eager to pinpoint the earliest possible observations. Everyone is highly enthusiastic and ready for what’s ahead.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com