This diagram shows the trajectory of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it passes through the solar system. It will make its closest approach to the Sun in October.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Posted on 07/03/2025 10:42:31 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Astronomers have spotted a new comet, moving on a trajectory that indicates that it whizzed into our solar system from interstellar space and is just passing through.
It's only the third time scientists have discovered this kind of visitor from outside our solar system. The first two, 'Oumuamua and Comet Borisov, intrigued astronomers because of the chance to observe pieces from another star system beyond our own.
"This is like our chance to randomly sample what's going on in the rest of the galaxy," University of Oxford astrophysicist Chris Lintott recently told NPR, saying he and most other researchers really hadn't given much thought to interstellar objects until the discovery of the first one in 2017.
This diagram shows the trajectory of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it passes through the solar system. It will make its closest approach to the Sun in October.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
"I think the idea that we could see bits of other solar systems flying through our own really captivated the attention of a whole lot of people who started trying to work on these things," says Lintott.
NASA has named this latest interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, after detecting it this week with the NASA-funded ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile.
The comet is now about 420 million miles (670 million kilometers) away. Astronomers around the world are racing to use telescopes to learn more about its size and physical properties.
It's moving fast, but poses no threat to Earth, according to NASA. The object will remain visible to ground-based telescopes through September, then will pass too close to the sun for observations to occur. But in December, it will re-emerge, allowing for more studies.
And astronomers are anticipating an imminent bonanza of new discoveries of interstellar objects, thanks to the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, a brand new facility with unique capabilities that should allow it to spot lots of interstellar objects in the years to come.
Built with funding from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, the facility will collect a mind-boggling amount of data on the entire southern night sky during a decade-long survey slated to start later this year.
Once is a fluke. Twice a coincidence.
Three times is evidence of enemy action.
Oumuamua accelerated on the way out.
Ice best has fit tosses ice and dust ball at us.
Wonder where all that water came from.
“Oumuamua accelerated on the way out.”
Yes it did. :)
Somebody save Buenos Aires now that Argentina finally has a good president.
Livestream of I3 by Virtual Telescope Project today (Thurs) at 6 PM Eastern time on Youtube ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOtp16YKweM
Z
BILL!!!
Did you just see that?!
Thanks
Probably fired from a Palestinian planet.
Is Nasa sure this is a comet?
Rendezvous with Rama
by Arthur C. Clarke
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rendezvous_with_Rama
In his book he says the same thing about the aliens.
They do everything in 3’s.
Thanks BenLurkin. I missed this before my similar topic.
Thank you for posting this. I covered comets for approximately three decades . My approach is unique and I will do my best to bring 1% or more of the puzzle to the table. This object is big and there is a lot of mysteries to it.
I made a quick video, and if you’re interested here’s the link. If you like this weird coverage backed up with facts, out-of-the-box thinking. Please support this journey by helping me reach finally 1000 subscribers, so I can get paid finally after 13 years plus on YouTube. Or at least like the video so I can get out of this censorship and shadow band dilemma.
I promise you I will do my best to bring 1%.
COMET 2025 N1 (ATLAS) | It’s Big | Is This Oumuamua Mothership ?
https://youtu.be/MsOVXLQCybs?si=yPwpzuoXJlFpZBH3
I got a good one for all of you , about 3I Atlas. I am doing my very best to provide new data , etc.. signs , etc ..
https://youtu.be/qp8—o8U7x8?si=mEtK-S4Oy085LLgt
So much please help me break this S. Band , etc ..
I only now need 45 more subs for 1K . Maybe then I can buy a cup of coffee ?
Thank You . More to Come
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