Latest news with #A11pl3Z
NDTV
2 hours ago
- Science
- NDTV
NASA Detects 'Interstellar Visitor' Hurtling Through Solar System
Astronomers have observed what they believe to be the third detected "interstellar object" speeding through the solar system in the direction of the Earth. The visiting space object is expected to depart the cosmic neighbourhood permanently after making its closest approach to the Sun in about four months, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The comet-like body, designated 3I/ATLAS by the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Centre, is hurtling towards the Sun at a speed of over 60 kilometres per second and is believed to have come from interstellar space. Here, "interstellar" means the object came from outside the solar system, likely another star system. It is not bound by the Sun's gravity and is only passing through on a trajectory that shows it didn't form here and won't stay. Originally known as A11pl3Z, the object was initially detected in data gathered between June 25 and June 29 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), which uses telescopes in South Africa and Hawaii to automatically scan the night sky, Live Science reported. With a potential 12-mile (20-kilometre) range, A11pl3Z is most likely a large asteroid or potentially a comet. It is travelling into the inner solar system at roughly 152,000 mph (245,000 km/h) and is approaching Earth from the area of the night sky where the Milky Way's bar is located. The Minor Planet Centre (MPC), operated by the International Astronomical Union, officially designated the object as interstellar on Tuesday after analysing its trajectory and preliminary observational data. Experts believe that A11pl3Z came from somewhere outside the gravitational pull of the Sun and has enough momentum to fly through our cosmic neighbourhood without slowing down. However, more observations are necessary to make a definitive statement. "It looks kind of fuzzy," astronomer Peter Veres, who works for the MPC of the International Astronomical Union, told AFP. The A11pl3Z "will fly deep through the Solar System, passing just inside the orbit of Mars," but it will have no effect on the nearby planets, Mr Veres said. Richard Moissl, head of planetary defence at the European Space Agency, claimed that A11pl3Z is not a threat to Earth. The object is reportedly believed to be between 10 and 20 kilometres wide, making it the largest interstellar intruder ever discovered. However, it may be smaller if the object is composed of ice, which reflects more light. This marks the third occasion that humans have discovered something coming from the stars into the solar system. There have only been two confirmed interstellar visitors so far. The first one was Oumuamua, a cigar-shaped object that grabbed headlines in 2017 when some astronomers speculated that it might be an alien probe before experts determined it was most likely a space rock that shot hydrogen. The second one was Comet 2I/Borisov, observed in 2019, as it sailed through the solar system.
Mint
3 hours ago
- Science
- Mint
Comet or asteroid? Unknown object speeding towards Earth leaves scientists puzzled
Scientists in Europe have detected what they believe could be the third known object from another star system to enter our solar system. The newly discovered space object, named A11pl3Z, was spotted by the European Space Agency (ESA) and is currently several hundred million miles away, near Jupiter. Though it appears to be travelling towards Earth, experts say there is no danger as it will pass nowhere near our planet and is expected to fly past Mars instead, The Mirror reported. At this stage, scientists are unsure whether A11pl3Z is a rocky asteroid or an icy comet, both of which are common in space. Its precise size and shape are still unknown, and further observations are underway to better understand the object's origins. NASA scientists are also monitoring its progress closely. Read | Who is Anil Menon? The NASA astronaut set for his first International Space Station mission in 2026 Astrophysicist Josep Trigo-Rodriguez, from the Institute of Space Sciences in Barcelona speaking with The Mirror said that the object's unusual speed and trajectory suggest it could be an interstellar visitor. Writing in The Conversation, Dr Trigo-Rodriguez explained, "There are certain aspects of its extended appearance that could point to it being a comet. However, this will need to be confirmed in the coming weeks as it moves deeper into the solar system." He also noted, "On the other hand, it is normal for an object subjected to the extremely low temperatures of interstellar space for millions of years to take longer than normal to 'wake up' from its slumber." Dr Trigo-Rodriguez estimates that the object measures around 40 kilometres (25 miles) across. Experts from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have confirmed through their Scout program at the Center for the Study of Minor Bodies (CNEOs) that there is no chance of the object striking Earth. According to their calculations, the closest it will come is about 284 million kilometres (roughly 176 million miles) away. If confirmed, A11pl3Z would be the third interstellar object recorded by astronomers. The first, named Oumuamua, was discovered in 2017 and initially classified as an asteroid before later being thought to be a comet. The second was 2I/Borisov, a comet detected in 2019, which also originated from beyond our solar system.
Washington Post
7 hours ago
- Science
- Washington Post
Rare object from beyond our solar system spotted zipping around Earth
A newly discovered interstellar object is hurtling around us, only the third such interloper to be observed in our solar system. The object is not expected to pose an impact risk to Earth, but telescopes around the world have been able to detect the mystery visitor. The object — provisionally known as A11pl3Z — gained attention on Tuesday when it was spotted by telescopes for NASA's early warning system for asteroid impacts. Shortly after the discovery, amateur and professional astronomers looked through archival images and found it in earlier data from June. More than 100 observations have been made of the object, including from telescopes in Chile and Arizona. The object is traveling fast, speeding at our solar system at about 245,000 kilometers per hour relative to the sub, according to astronomer Josep M. Trigo Rodríguez. It is currently located just inside the orbit of Jupiter. The object — which will get a new name when it is approved and published by the Minor Planet Center — is currently 528 million kilometers from Earth (roughly the the distance it would take to travel from Earth to the moon 1,370 times.) It's uncertain if the object — appearing very faint at the moment — is a comet or asteroid at this time, according to scientists on Minor Planet mailing list. But the observations so far have helped track the object's journey, indicating it likely came from outside of the solar system from a thin galactic disk. The object could between 12 miles (20 kilometers) to 25 miles (40 kilometers) wide, according to various scientists. Marshall Eubanks, chief scientist at Space Initiatives Inc., estimated it could come close enough to Mars in early October to be observed by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, although it would be only about 0.2 pixels wide. It is expected to reach its closest point to the sun later around October 29, reaching a distance about twice as far as Earth is from the sun. This is the third interstellar object to be observed in our solar system, with the other two found in the past decade. In 2017, scientists observed the first interstellar object known as Oumuamua, appearing rocky and cigar-shaped. Although it puzzled scientists because it didn't quite fit the definition of an asteroid or comet. In 2019, scientists saw our second interstellar visitor, comet 2I/Borisov. Part of the recent discoveries may be chalked up to more observations over time and a significantly improved capability to scan the skies, scientists said on the list serv. Such discoveries may become more commonplace with the surveys from the Vera Rubin Observatory, which has already found thousands of new asteroids in just 10 hours of operation. Compared to the other two previously found objects, A11pl3Z has a unique orbit. It has a very extreme hyperbolic trajectory through the solar system (or a high eccentricity) — meaning it won't be coming back to our solar system once it leaves. More observations will help scientists determine the object's path through our solar system, where it came from and if it's a comet. The object will appear brighter as it approaches Earth, but models show it will likely be on the other side of the sun. But, don't be bummed, there's probably another interstellar object waiting to be discovered in time.
Extra.ie
8 hours ago
- Science
- Extra.ie
Mystery surrounding new ‘interstellar' object zooming through our solar system
A mysterious object from outside our solar system has been spotted by astronomers — and is heading our way. The discovery was made by astronomer Sam Deen back in June, with the object becoming known as A11pl3Z. While astronomers and physicists are not sure what exactly the object is, it's been reported that it's 12 miles wide. Today's top videos STORY CONTINUES BELOW Harvard physicist Avi Loeb said that the object is expected to fly by Earth around December 17, at more than 41 miles per second (150,000mph). 3rd interstellar object discovered? Maybe. There's a lot of buzz right now in the Astro community. More observations should come in tonight to confirm if A11pI3Z is from beyond the solar system. July 2, 2025 For those who may be thinking that this object will finally be what wipes out humanity, fear not — as the speed at which the object will fly by Earth means that it will be moving too fast to get caught in the solar system's gravitational pull. While on its current trajectory, the object is expected to come only within 2.4 astronomical units of Earth (and while that sounds close, it's actually 223million miles), but the size of the object is what's raising eyebrows. The object is far bigger than the last two otherworldly comets that flew past Earth — Oumuamua, which was approximately 300 to 1,300 feet long, and the Borisov comet, which was around half a mile (approx 800 metres) in diameter. The comet seen via telescope. Pic: Filipp Romanov Despite the mystery surrounding what it is, some scientists have speculated that it's man made and sent from another solar system that may have intelligent life — something that was echoed after Oumuamua flew past Earth in 2017, and wasn't a known comet. 'It was inferred to have a disk-like shape and to exhibit non-gravitational acceleration, raising the possibility of an artificial origin,' Mr Loeb wrote in an article earlier this week. 'The second reported interstellar object, Borisov, appeared like a familiar natural comet.' Despite the alarming size of A11pl3Z at this time, Mr Loeb adds that it may be smaller; and have a small core that's surrounded by a bright cloud of gas and dust, reflecting sunlight that would make the mass appear larger.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Large Unidentified Object Detected Entering Our Solar System
In 2017, 'Oumuamua stunned scientists as the interstellar object entered and then exited the solar system, something previously unprecedented in the world of astronomy. In 2019, the comet Borisov was deemed the second interstellar object to enter our solar system. However, in 2022, another object was found to have previously come into our solar system and struck earth, without notice, in 2014. These three are the only known interstellar objects to have entered our solar system in recorded human history. But now a fourth and much larger object has been spotted entering the solar system, and the scientific community is rushing to study what, exactly, this thing is. While these findings are subject to change as more data becomes available, the object, dubbed A11pl3Z, is quite large. According to a Medium article by Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb, A11pl3X's H-magnitude of 12, previously listed by NASA, suggests a diameter of about 20 kilometers. Recent adjustments to the H-magnitude, now listed at 13.6, indicate that it may be even larger. Another interpretation of the data, according to Loeb, could suggest that A11pl3Z is smaller than these estimates, but a plume of gas and dust are creating the illusion of a much larger object. This simulation of A11pl3Z's trajectory, created by amateur astronomer Tony Dunn, shows its likely path in relation to the sun and planets: According to Dunn's projected trajectory, the object is expected to pass quite far from Earth but inside Mars' orbit, measuring 2.4 times as far from Earth as Earth's distance from the Sun when it reaches its closest point on Dec. 17 of this year. Marshall Eubanks, physicist and co-founder of Space Initiatives, commented on the object's speed to the The Minor Planet Mailing List, writing 'next April (2026) it will have a velocity relative to Earth of ~ 90 km/s. That should set a record.' Eubanks added that the object may be visible from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter when it passes 'relatively close to Mars' in October. The Minor Planet Mailing List hosts public discourse as a service to the astronomical community, and is, according to its website, 'populated with many of the world's best amateur astronomers as well as many professional astronomers involved in all facets of asteroid and comet research.' Large Unidentified Object Detected Entering Our Solar System first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 2, 2025
