Unveiling the Mysteries of Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS

Quick Summary

• Astronomers have discovered the third known interstellar object in our solar system, 3I/ATLAS.
• The object, likely a comet, is traveling at 60 km per second wiht a hyperbolic trajectory and will leave the solar system by year-end after avoiding being captured by the sun’s gravity.
• Initial estimates suggest it may be billions of years old and came from the Milky Way’s thick galactic disk region-possibly linked to stars that no longer exist.
• Observatories such as JWST,Hubble,and ground-based telescopes are racing to study its composition,size (estimated between 1-2 km),rotational speed,and chemistry before perihelion when it warms near the sun.
• Scientists speculate it contains pristine ice from its origin surroundings but there is uncertainty regarding whether it will survive its approach to the sun without breaking up.
• Although undetectable by spacecraft due to distance and speed constraints,future missions like ESA’s comet Interceptor coudl target subsequent interstellar objects for closer studies.

Images:

1. Observation Discovery Image: Shows comet position during discovery in July 2025.

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