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Hans India
06-07-2025
- Science
- Hans India
After ʻOumuamua and 2I/Borisov a new interstellar object 3I/Atlas races through solar system at 60 km/s
Astronomers have confirmed the discovery of a rare interstellar object named 3I/Atlas, the third-ever known visitor from beyond our Solar System. Detected racing through space at a blazing speed of 60 kilometers per second, 3I/Atlas is believed to have formed in a distant star system and dislodged due to gravitational tugs during stellar encounters. Initially spotted by Chile's ATLAS survey on July 2, 2025, the object was traced back in archived telescope data to June 14. Measuring an estimated 10 to 20 kilometers wide, it appears to be the largest interstellar object ever discovered, though that could vary depending on its icy composition, which reflects more sunlight. Peter Veres of the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center described the object as 'fuzzy,' indicating comet-like activity. It likely has a short tail and emits gas, confirming its classification as a cosmic snowball, or comet. 3I/Atlas poses no danger to Earth. It will pass safely inside the orbit of Mars before swinging around the Sun on October 29, 2025, at its closest point (perihelion), and then exit the Solar System in the years to come. Unlike asteroids and comets that orbit the Sun, its hyperbolic trajectory confirms it's not bound to our star — a true interstellar interloper. Astronomers say it's likely been wandering the galaxy since being ejected from its home system. This is only the third confirmed interstellar object after ʻOumuamua in 2017 — which sparked speculation of alien origin — and 2I/Borisov in 2019. Scientists are now working urgently to learn more about 3I/Atlas, including its shape, rotation, and composition. The object is currently near the distance of Jupiter from Earth, and its speed is significantly higher than that of previous interstellar visitors. Though it's too fast and distant to intercept with a spacecraft, researchers see it as a unique opportunity. 'If we detect amino acids or organic compounds on such objects,' said astronomer Mark Norris, 'it could strengthen the case for life-friendly conditions elsewhere in the universe.' With new telescopes like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory coming online, astronomers hope that similar discoveries will become more common — possibly monthly sightings of interstellar guests just like 3I/Atlas.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA discovers third interstellar comet
July 3 (UPI) -- NASA discovered the third interstellar comet through a survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile. The interstellar comet first observed on Tuesday by NASA's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Alert System telescope, or ATLAS, has been officially named 3I/ATLAS. A series of "pre-discovery" observations dating back to June 14 from three ATLAS Telescopes globally and the Zwicky Transient Facility in California's Palomar Observatory have since been collected, along with new observations from several telescopes since the initial report. "If confirmed, it will be the third known interstellar object from outside our solar system that we have discovered," Dr. Mark Norris, a senior lecturer in astronomy at the University of Central Lancashire, told The Guardian. Dr. Paul Chodas, director of the Center for Near Earth Object Studies at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, told The New York Times there is "no uncertainty" that the comet is from interstellar space, noting speeds that indicate it could not have originated in our solar system. "If you trace its orbit backward, it seems to be coming from the center of the galaxy, more or less," Chodas said. "It definitely came from another solar system. We don't know which one." The comet will reach its closest approach to the Sun around Oct. 30, but it shows no threat to Earth as it will remain at least 150 million miles away. It is currently about 416 million miles from the Sun. In December, the comet is expected to reappear on the other side of the Sun. The comet's size and physical attributes are being investigated. It is expected to remain visible to ground-based telescopes through September. Jake Foster, a Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomer, said: "At the moment, the comet is not expected to be visible to the naked eye, but it should be visible through a reasonably sized amateur telescope in late 2025 and early 2026. As it is studied more over the coming weeks, we'll get a better idea of just how visible it will realistically be." In 2017 Oumunamua traveled through the solar system as the first interstellar object. In 2019, the second interstellar comet, Borisov passed by.
UPI
03-07-2025
- Science
- UPI
NASA discovers third interstellar comet
NASA discovered the third interstellar comet through a survey telescope in Rio Hurtado,Chile on Monday .File Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/UPI | License Photo July 3 (UPI) -- NASA discovered the third interstellar comet through a survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile. The interstellar comet first observed on Tuesday by NASA's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Alert System telescope, or ATLAS, has been officially named 3I/ATLAS. A series of "pre-discovery" observations dating back to June 14 from three ATLAS Telescopes globally and the Zwicky Transient Facility in California's Palomar Observatory have since been collected, along with new observations from several telescopes since the initial report. "If confirmed, it will be the third known interstellar object from outside our solar system that we have discovered," Dr. Mark Norris, a senior lecturer in astronomy at the University of Central Lancashire, told The Guardian. Dr. Paul Chodas, director of the Center for Near Earth Object Studies at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, told The New York Times there is "no uncertainty" that the comet is from interstellar space, noting speeds that indicate it could not have originated in our solar system. "If you trace its orbit backward, it seems to be coming from the center of the galaxy, more or less," Chodas said. "It definitely came from another solar system. We don't know which one." The comet will reach its closest approach to the Sun around Oct. 30, but it shows no threat to Earth as it will remain at least 150 million miles away. It is currently about 416 million miles from the Sun. In December, the comet is expected to reappear on the other side of the Sun. The comet's size and physical attributes are being investigated. It is expected to remain visible to ground-based telescopes through September. Jake Foster, a Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomer, said: "At the moment, the comet is not expected to be visible to the naked eye, but it should be visible through a reasonably sized amateur telescope in late 2025 and early 2026. As it is studied more over the coming weeks, we'll get a better idea of just how visible it will realistically be." In 2017 Oumunamua traveled through the solar system as the first interstellar object. In 2019, the second interstellar comet, Borisov passed by.
Telegraph
03-07-2025
- Science
- Telegraph
Mystery alien object spotted passing through Solar System
A mystery alien object that has come from interstellar space has been spotted travelling through the Solar System. The object, thought to be about 12 miles in diameter, is likely to be a comet or asteroid and is heading towards the Sun. It is only the third time that an interstellar object has been seen inside the Solar System and experts are hoping it might give clues about alien star systems. The object, originally called A11pl3Z and now known as 3I/Atlas, will make its closest approach to the Sun about Oct 30 but amateur astronomers on Earth should be able to pick it up from August. The object was discovered by amateur astronomers at the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (Atlas) – a network of four telescopes in Hawaii, Chile and South Africa – which was set up to give an early warning of dangerous asteroids. Nasa confirmed the object poses no threat to Earth and will remain at a distance of about 150 million miles. Current estimates show that it will get about 40 per cent further from the Sun than the Earth is, before heading back out into the galaxy. Dr Mark Norris, a senior lecturer in Astronomy at the University of Central Lancashire, said: 'If confirmed, it will be the third known interstellar object from outside our Solar System that we have discovered, providing more evidence that such interstellar wanderers are relatively common in our galaxy. 'As it gets closer, it's expected to brighten, especially if it turns out to be a comet rather than an asteroid. By the time it makes its closest approach, it will be a relatively easy target for amateur astronomers to observe. 'Even with our fastest rockets, it would take tens of thousands of years for us to reach nearby stars. Thanks to these visitors from outside our solar system, we may not have to travel that far to sample star systems beyond our own. 'They might hold vital information about the building blocks of planets, or even life elsewhere in the universe. But to unlock those secrets, we'll need the technology to catch up and reach them before they pass through our Solar System.' The object is arriving from the direction of the constellation Sagittarius, and is currently located about 420 million miles from Earth. Astronomers realised that the object was unusual because of its strange hyperbolic trajectory through the Solar System. The curve of its orbit is so flat and far away from being a circle that it must have come from interstellar space. Only two other interstellar objects have been spotted in our solar system previously. The first, called Oumuamua (pronounced oh MOO-uh MOO-uh) was a bizarre cigar-shape rock, which passed through the Solar System in 2017 and appeared to be accelerating away from the Sun, suggesting it had an internal power source. Some speculated it might be an alien spacecraft, but scientists later found its course was being altered by the tiny push created as hydrogen gas spurted out of its icy surface, acting like a thruster. The second was 2I/Borisov, a comet which was spotted in 2019 and thought to have originated near to a red dwarf star. The new space rock is currently very dim but amateur astronomers with sensitive equipment may still be able to capture it using a long exposure. Next month the new comet should become brighter allowing more astrophotographers to capture on camera the rare visitor. Experts say it should remain visible to ground-based telescopes through September, after which it will pass too close to the Sun to observe, but will reappear in early December. The European Space Agency said its Planetary Defence team were continuing to observe the object.
The Guardian
03-07-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Nasa discovers interstellar comet moving through solar system
It isn't a bird, it isn't a plane and it certainly isn't Superman – but it does appear to be a visitor from beyond our solar system, according to astronomers who have discovered a new object hurtling through our cosmic neighbourhood. The object, originally called A11pl3Z and now known as 3I/Atlas, was first reported by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (Atlas) survey telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, on Tuesday. According to Nasa, subsequent analysis of data collected by various telescopes before this date have extended observations back to 14 June; while further observations have also been made. As a result, experts have been plotting the path of the visitor. Now about 416m miles away from the Sun and travelling from the direction of the constellation Sagittarius, the object is believed to be whizzing through the solar system at about 60km/s relative to the sun on a highly eccentric, hyperbolic orbit – suggesting that, like the cigar-shaped object 'Oumuamua that appeared in 2017 and the comet 2I/Borisov that turned up in 2019, it is a visitor from afar. Dr Mark Norris, senior lecturer in astronomy at the University of Central Lancashire, said: 'If confirmed, it will be the third known interstellar object from outside our solar system that we have discovered, providing more evidence that such interstellar wanderers are relatively common in our galaxy.' While the nature of the new visitor was not initially apparent, the Minor Planet Center has revealed that tentative signs of cometary activity have been spotted, noting the object has a marginal coma and short tail. As a result the object has been given the additional name of C/2025 N1. While some experts have suggested the object could be as large as 20km in diameter – bigger than the space rock that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs – it seems Earth residents don't need to worry. Nasa said: 'The comet poses no threat to Earth and will remain at a distance of at least 1.6 astronomical units [about 150m miles].' It said the object would reach its closest approach to the sun around 30 October, coming within about 130m miles of the star – or just within the orbit of Mars. The comet is then expected to leave this solar system and head back out into the cosmos. Norris said: 'As it gets closer, it's expected to brighten, especially if it turns out to be a comet rather than an asteroid. By the time it makes its closest approach, it will be a relatively easy target for amateur astronomers to observe.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion For those who cannot wait that long, the Virtual Telescope Project, a network of robotic telescopes, is expecting to host a live feed on its YouTube channel from 11pm UK time on Thursday.
