Stranger from afar: Nasa confirms interstellar comet 3I/Atlas in our solar system; set to make a close pass in October
An intergalactic comet that strayed into our backyard has been discovered by
Nasa
. Earlier this week, the space agency used Chile's Atlas telescope to observe the swiftly moving object and verified that it was a comet from a different star system. It is not a threat to Earth and is officially the third known interstellar object to transit through our solar system.
According to an AP report, the most recent visitor is located close to Jupiter, 416 million miles (670 million kilometers) from the sun. According to Nasa, the comet will move between the orbits of Mars and Earth during its closest approach to the sun in October. It will pass safely within 150 million miles (240 million kilometers) of the red planet.
In order to ascertain the comet's size and shape, astronomers from all around the world are keeping an eye on the icy snowball known as 3I/Atlas. Telescopes should be able to see it until September before it approaches the sun too closely. In December, it should resurface on the opposite side of the sun.
Oumuamua, which means scout in Hawaiian, was the first interstellar visitor seen from Earth. It was named for the Hawaii observatory that made the discovery in 2017. The elongated
Oumuamua
was initially classified as an asteroid, but it has now shown evidence of being a comet.
In 2019, an amateur astronomer from Crimea named 21/Borisov spotted the second object that has been verified to have wandered from another star system into our own. It is also thought to be a comet.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
4 hours ago
- News18
Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Shares Mesmerizing Glimpse Of Earth From ISS Observatory
Last Updated: Shubhanshu Shukla became the first Indian on the ISS, observing Earth from the Cupola Module. He docked with the ISS on June 26 as the mission pilot for Axiom-4. Indian government on Sunday shared a set of images showing Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, who scripted history by becoming the first Indian on the International Space Station, observing the Earth from the space station. Group Captain Shukla participated in the mission as the pilot for Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission, which launched on 25 June 2025 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He was accompanied by veteran American astronaut Peggy Whitson, Polish scientist Sławosz Uznański, and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu. Following a 28-hour journey, the crew successfully docked with the International Space Station on 26 June. In the pictures shared on X, Shukla is seen seated on the edge of the ISS' 7-windowed Cupola Module with the Earth visible in the background. 'Gazing Down From The Space! Group Capt Shubhanshu Shukla enjoys the stunning panoramic view of Earth from the 7-windowed Cupola Module aboard the International Space Station. It's been a remarkable journey as he marks a week in orbit, representing India among the stars," the X post of MyGovIndia reads. Sudhanshu Shukla has now completed 10 days in space, advancing research critical to the future of long-duration space exploration. One major focuses was the myogenesis investigation, which examines how microgravity accelerates muscle atrophy. In the absence of gravity, astronauts experience rapid weakening of skeletal muscles, a phenomenon linked to molecular and cellular changes. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: July 06, 2025, 22:09 IST
India.com
9 hours ago
- India.com
Ever wonder how Indian astronauts communicate with Earth without a signal? they use...
Ever wonder how Indian astronauts communicate with Earth without a signal? they use... In a historic moment for India's space sector, Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla reached the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 mission. The Ax-4 mission was launched on June 25 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, which is located in Florida. Group Captain Shukla, along with other astronauts, took a 28-and-a-half-hour journey on the Dragon spacecraft to reach the ISS. He held a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also interacted with several Indian students. But do you know how astronauts communicate with Earth when space has no network or mobile towers? Sound Waves Cant Travel As Space Has No Air As we all know, space has no air, and sound waves cannot travel without air, making conventional voice communication impossible. Since sound waves can't be used, astronauts rely on radio waves to communicate with Earth. Notably, sound is a mechanical wave that cannot travel on its own and needs a medium like air or water. The Only Mode Of Communication Is Radio Waves In order to communicate with Earth, astronauts use radio frequencies which is a type of electromagnetic radiation. These waves don't need any medium such as air or water to travel. Astronauts use microphones and transmitters, which are fitted in their helmets, that convert speech into radio signals. These signals then transmitted to Earth through satellite antennas. The ground stations catch these frequencies and convert them back into audio. NASA's Global Communication Network NASA's Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) system maintains constant contact with spacecraft. This network uses large, strategically placed antennas to ensure uninterrupted communication. Astronauts Use Relay Satellites ISS uses relay satellites to communicate with the Earth. These satellites hover in high Earth orbit and act as intermediaries, catching signals from astronauts and sending those signals to ground stations. The same pattern will be followed whether it's a voice message, video call or an image. Laser-Based Space Communication Is The Future NASA is exploring laser communication technology as a faster, higher-quality alternative to the current radio-based system used for space communication. While radio waves and antenna networks currently maintain contact with spacecraft, laser systems, employing infrared beams, are being developed to significantly improve data transmission speed and clarity.
The Print
9 hours ago
- The Print
It's official: New object zipping through our solar system is the 3rd known interstellar visitor
Astronomers are gearing up to observe it across different wavelengths to learn about its composition, shape, and origin. Findings could offer insights into planetary formation in other star systems. With advanced telescopes like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, scientists said that more such interstellar visitors may soon follow. Its open, hyperbolic path confirms its origin beyond our Sun's gravitational grip. Currently, it is just inside Jupiter's orbit and will pass through the inner solar system in October, providing us a brief but exciting window for study. Signs of a tail visible in it suggest it's behaving like a comet, venting gas and dust as it heats up. New Delhi: Astronomers have spotted a rare celestial visitor: 3I/ATLAS, the third confirmed object from outside our solar system. Discovered on July 1 by a telescope in Chile that's part of NASA's ATLAS project, this object is moving at a record 68 km per second, which is faster than any interstellar body seen before. The discovery was described in a circular by the France-based International Astronomical Union on 2 July. New gene therapy holds promise for the hearing impaired Gene therapy is showing real promise for people with congenital deafness, according to a new international study involving Sweden's Karolinska Institute. In a peer-reviewed paper published on 2 July in Nature Medicine Journal, researchers described how they treated 10 patients, aged 1 to 24, in five different hospitals, who had severe hearing loss caused by mutations in the OTOF gene. This gene affects a protein called otoferlin, which is needed to send sound signals from the ear to the brain. The researchers injected a healthy copy of the gene directly into the inner ear. The results were remarkable with most patients regaining some hearing within a month, and all showed significant improvement after six months. The best responses came from children aged 5 to 8. One seven-year-old even began holding conversations within four months. The treatment was also deemed to be safe, with no serious side effects reported in the first 12 months. Researchers are now looking to expand this approach to treat other genetic causes of deafness, using the same gene therapy method. Also Read: That morning brew could be doing more than just jumpstarting your day—helping your cells age gracefully Forest collapse some 252 million years ago A new study has revealed that the worst extinction event on the Earth, 252 million years ago, led to the collapse of tropical forests, whose effects were felt for millions of years after. During what is known as the Permian-Triassic 'Great Dying' event, there was a lot of global warming caused by volcanic activity in Siberia. This global warming was seen as the main reason why most of the living beings died off. But scientists were confused about why the Earth's temperature remained so high even millions of years after the eruptions. Now, researchers from the University of Leeds and the China University of Geosciences in a new peer-reviewed study published 2 July in Nature Communications Journal suggest that the destruction of tropical forests due to the extinction event drastically slowed down carbon sequestration—the process by which plants trap carbon dioxide. Without forests, CO₂ built up and stayed in the atmosphere, keeping the planet hot. They studied ancient fossils and rocks to reconstruct changes in plant life and climate. Their data matched simulations showing how forest loss could explain the prolonged warming. The findings, according to the study, serve as a stark warning: if today's tropical forests collapse due to climate change, we might trigger a similar long-term climate crisis. The first ever complete human genome sequenced from Egypt In a new breakthrough, Italian and British scientists have sequenced the first complete human genome from ancient Egypt, using DNA extracted from a 4,500 to 4,800-year-old skeleton. The study was published in Nature Journal on 2 July. The man whose genome was sequenced lived during the era of the first pyramids and was buried in a hillside tomb in southern Egypt. Genetic analysis shows his ancestry was about 80 percent North African and 20 percent West Asian, which shows the first ever DNA-based evidence of human movement between Egypt and Mesopotamia. The remains reveal signs of hard physical labour, possibly as a potter, though the elaborate burial suggests a higher social status. Extracting ancient DNA from Egypt has long been a challenge due to heat-related degradation of the samples, but new techniques have made this feat possible. This individual's genome opens a new window into Egypt's early history and human migration. Researchers hope future collaborations with Egyptian institutions will expand understanding of ancestry and movement in the ancient world. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: Where no humanoid has gone before: Italian scientists develop world's first flying robot
