Latest news with #GeminiObservatory
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Telescope spies rare interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS zooming through our solar system (photos)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Astronomers unveiled a striking new view of the interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS on its journey toward the inner solar system. The Gemini North telescope in Hawai'i captured the newfound comet passing through our cosmic neighborhood, about 290 million miles (465 million kilometers) from Earth. 3I/ATLAS was initially detected by ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) on July 1. It's just the third known interstellar object — meaning it originated outside of our solar system — according to a statement from the National Science Foundation (NSF) NOIRLab, which operates the International Gemini Observatory. "The sensitivity and scheduling agility of the International Gemini Observatory has provided critical early characterization of this interstellar wanderer," Martin Still, NSF program director for the International Gemini Observatory, said in the statement. "We look forward to a bounty of new data and insights as this object warms itself on sunlight before continuing its cold, dark journey between the stars." Interstellar objects like 3I/ATLAS are remnants from distant star systems that have been ejected into space. They offer valuable insights into the building blocks of other planetary systems in the universe — including the chemical elements that were present when and where they formed, according to the statement. 3I/ATLAS is only the third interstellar object detected visiting our solar system, after 1I'Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019. While more objects of this nature are believed to regularly pass through our solar system, they are incredibly difficult to capture. However, at an estimated 12 miles (20 km) in diameter, 3I/ATLAS is much larger than previous interstellar objects, making it a better target for study. The new images from the Gemini North telescope show that the comet has a compact coma — the cloud of gas and dust enveloping its icy core. And other observations have suggested that it may be the oldest comet ever discovered (possibly older than our solar system), hailing from the outer thick disk of the Milky Way. 3I/ATLAS will reach its closest approach to the sun on Oct. 30, passing within 130 million miles (210 million km), or just inside the orbit of Mars. In December, 3I/ATLAS will pass within about 170 million miles (270 million km) of Earth, though it will pose no danger to our planet. RELATED STORIES — New interstellar object 3I/ATLAS: Everything we know about the rare cosmic visitor — Astronomers say new interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS is 'very likely to be the oldest comet we have ever seen' — Why scientists are so excited about the newfound interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS (op-ed) Given 3I/ATLAS' highly eccentric orbit, this will be its one and only visit to our solar system, as its trajectory does not loop back around the sun. That's why astronomers around the world are using a wide variety of telescopes to observe the comet during its brief visit, before it returns to interstellar space. Solve the daily Crossword
CBC
a day ago
- Science
- CBC
Astronomers capture 1st close-up photograph of new interstellar visitor
It's out of this world. Or, more accurately, this solar system. On July 1, astronomers discovered an object near the orbit of Jupiter that was somewhat peculiar. It had a strange orbit, one that didn't take it around the sun like most asteroids or comets. Eventually it was confirmed that this object — named 3I/ATLAS, or C/2025 N1 (ATLAS) — was an interstellar visitor. Now, using the U.S. National Science Foundation's (NSF) Gemini North telescope in Hawaii, astronomers have captured the first detailed image of this cosmic interloper. "We look forward to a bounty of new data and insights as this object warms itself on sunlight before continuing its cold, dark journey between the stars," Martin Still, NSF program director for the International Gemini Observatory, said in a statement. The comet will continue to be visible in large telescopes until September, after which it will be lost in the sun's glare. Learning more about the comet "As this is only our third interstellar visitor ever discovered, we're excited to learn about this entirely new class of object," Paul Wiegert, an astronomy professor at Western University, told CBC News in an email. Astronomers like to study comets and asteroids as they are left over from our solar system's earliest formation and can reveal what conditions were like at the time. Being able to study something from outside of our neighbourhood could potentially provide more knowledge about other star systems. Current observations suggest the comet is roughly 20 kilometres in diameter, far larger than the previous two interstellar comets astronomers observed passing through our solar system. The first comet was 'Oumuamua, which had a measly diameter of 200 metres. The second was 2I/Borisov, which was one kilometre in diameter. The fact that 3I/ATLAS is so large is a boon to astronomers: It makes it easier to study, particularly as it nears Earth. It will make a close approach in December, but poses no threat. A recent study presented by author Matthew Hopkins at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting 2025 in Durham, England, suggests that this new visitor may be the oldest comet ever seen. He estimates its origin to be from a part of our galaxy that is home to ancient stars, and says that it could be seven billion years old, far older than our galaxy's 4.5 billion years. And this new visitor is hustling: when it was discovered, it was travelling at roughly 61 kilometres per second. How they know it's not from our neighbourhood Astronomers can determine the origin of comets or asteroids based on their orbits' eccentricity, or how stretched out its path is. An eccentricity of 0 means it is a perfectly circular orbit. An eccentricity greater than one means the orbit does not circle around the sun, and the higher the value, the more stretched out the orbit. WATCH | Orbit of third-known interstellar object: Orbit of third-known interstellar object 14 hours ago In 3I/ATLAS's case, its orbit is 6.2, which is how astronomers knew that it came from beyond the solar system. For comparison, 'Oumuamua had an eccentricity of 1.2 and 2I/Borisov's eccentricity was 3.6. Currently, this new comet is still within Jupiter's orbit, roughly 465 million kilometres from Earth. It will make its closest approach to our planet on Dec. 19, at a distance of roughly 270 million kilometres. It will reach its closet point to the sun on Oct. 30 at a distance of 210 million kilometres, which will be just inside the orbit of Mars. Though astronomers have quickly learned some things about this newest interloper, they hope to learn more over time. "This one seems much like a comet from our own solar system. That is, mostly made of ice which has been frozen for billions of years as it wandered the galaxy, but now [is] starting to gently turn to vapour in the light of our sun. This makes 3I/ATLAS look fuzzy with a tail, visible in the image," Wiegert said. "But we really don't know if it is like one of our comets (which are leftover building block from when the Earth and planets formed) or something completely different."
India Today
08-07-2025
- Science
- India Today
10 most powerful telescopes in the world exploring the cosmos
10 most powerful telescopes in the world exploring the cosmos 08 Jul, 2025 Credit: Credit Name Located 1.5 million kilometers from Earth at the Sun-Earth L2 point, JWST is the most advanced space telescope ever built. Operating primarily in the infrared, it captures light from the earliest galaxies formed after the Big Bang James Webb Space Telescope Nestled in the mountains of Guizhou, China, FAST is the world's largest single-dish radio telescope. It's designed to detect faint radio signals from space, playing a major role in pulsar research, mapping cosmic phenomena. 500-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope Currently under construction on Cerro Armazones in Chile, the ELT will become the largest ground-based telescope operating in visible and infrared wavelengths. European Extremely Large Telescope Under development at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, the GMT will have seven large mirrors functioning as a single 24.5-meter telescope. It will deliver images ten times sharper than Hubble, Giant Magellan Telescope Planned for Mauna Kea in Hawaii, the TMT will feature a 30-meter segmented mirror. It's designed to study black holes, early galaxies, and extrasolar planets in great detail, pushing the boundaries of modern astronomy. Thirty Meter Telescope Located in La Palma, Spain, GTC is the largest single-aperture optical telescope currently in operation, with a 10.4-meter mirror. It contributes to a broad range of studies, including dark matter, star formation, and exoplanet detection. Gran Telescopio Canarias Situated in Chile's Atacama Desert, ALMA is a powerful radio telescope made up of 66 high-precision antennas. It probes the coldest and most distant regions of the universe, shedding light on star and planet formation and the structure of galaxies. ALMA Telescope Comprising two 8.1-meter telescopes—one in Hawaii and the other in Chile—the Gemini Observatory offers full-sky coverage. These telescopes support diverse astronomical studies, from quasars to the birth of stars and galaxies. Gemini Observatory Orbiting Earth, Chandra is NASA's flagship X-ray telescope. It detects high-energy cosmic phenomena such as black holes, neutron stars, and supernova remnants, offering unparalleled views into the violent and energetic universe. Chandra X-ray Observatory Located in New Mexico, USA, MROI uses optical interferometry to combine light from multiple telescopes. This setup provides extremely high-resolution images of stars. Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer
