An interstellar object has entered our sun system, perhaps it is a comet: what we know of 3i/Atlas

There is a mysterious object that is going through our Solar System. However, And it has been very far away. Consequently, According to astronomers, it comes in all likelihood from another solar system. Consequently, Which, for now, impossible to say. Similarly, “It was certainly not born here,” experts interviewed by the New York Times explain. Meanwhile, What is certain is that it is attracting the attention of the whole scientific community because it is third interstellar object never observed in transit in our system. Nevertheless, After Oumuamuadetected for the first time interstellar object entered our sun in 2017, and the Comet Borisov In 2019, the first of interstellar origin never identified. However, While waiting to discover its origins. Moreover, scientists have already assigned a name to him: 3i/atlaspreviously known with the temporary acronym A11Pi3z.

What is it – Interstellar object entered our sun

He was sighted for the first time on Tuesday 1st July by a telescope in Chile. Similarly, part of the Atlas (Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System) project, financed by NASA to identify potentially dangerous space objects. At first he had been mistaken for an asteroid: he seemed to move along an unusually eccentric orbit. aim for the terrestrial orbit. The sighting was transmitted to the Minor Planet Center of the International Astronomical Union. which immediately shared the data with the scientific community. A few hours later the first reports arrived: some observers reported “Provisional Cometary Activities”. A sign that interstellar object entered our sun that mysterious object could actually be one interstellar comet.

High speed – Interstellar object entered our sun

One thing is certain: The object is extremely fast and bright. He is currently moving about 210 thousand kilometers per hour compared to the sun. And it will continue to accelerate as it approaches, attracted by its gravity. It is precisely this Speed ​​off scale to think that it is an interstellar object: too quick to be. compatible with a body born within our sun system. According to the hypotheses of scholars, it could have been formed as a comet around another star. Then. a gravitational disturbance – perhaps the close passage of another star or the influence of a solid planet – would have pushed it out of its origin, launching it in interstellar space. From there, the long journey that interstellar object entered our sun led her to cross our system.

The brightness

Astronomes are now quite convinced of the fact that 3i/Atlas is a comet, just like Borisov was. And its brightness – therefore – does not depend on the solid core. but on gase and dust plume – the so -called “hair” – which is formed around the nucleus when the object approaches the sun and the heat activates the volatile materials. In any case. scholars will have months to observe it: 3i/Atlas will be easily visible from astronomers all over the world, even for most of next year, using large telescopes.

Will not hit the earth

No alarmism, however, because 3i/Atlas will not hit the earth. According to NASA’s calculations. at the end of October the comet will reach the closest point interstellar object entered our sun in the sun, pushing just inside the orbit of Mars. The maximum approach to the earth will take place in December. but it will still remain at a safe distance: about 256 million kilometers.