Latest news with #PeterVeres
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
‘Will keep safe distance from Earth': Nasa spots interstellar comet in solar system; shares picture
Nasa spots interstellar comet in solar system, names it 3I/Atlas (Credit: Nasa) In a rare sight, NASA has spotted a fast-moving object from another star system that is currently lurking about 4.5 au (about 416 million miles or 670 million km) from the Sun, in our solar system. NASA spotted the interstellar object through the sky-surveying ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) survey telescope in Chile earlier this week and confirmed that the object was a comet. Astronomers around the world are monitoring the comet, which is officially named 3I/Atlas. It is only the third known alien object to pass through our solar system. Astronomers said the comet will pass by without posing a threat to Earth. 'It appears somewhat fuzzy,' said Peter Veres, an astronomer with the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center. 'There seems to be some gas surrounding it, and at least one or two telescopes have reported a short tail", reported AFP. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like These Are The Most Beautiful Women In The World This diagram shows the trajectory of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it passes through the solar system. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) Its closest brush with the Sun will come around October 30, when it will scoot between Mars and Earth at a distance of 1.4 au (about 130 million miles or 210 million km), nearer to Mars. The cigar‑shaped Oumuamua was the first such object in 2017, followed by comet 21/Borisov in 2019. Now 3I/Atlas joins the list, offering scientists a closer look at the comet's size and physical properties. It is expected to emerge on the other side of the Sun by early December.
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.
Daily Tribune
04-07-2025
- Science
- Daily Tribune
Third-ever confirmed interstellar object blazing through Solar System
AFP |Washington Astronomers on Wednesday confirmed the discovery of an interstellar object racing through our Solar System -- only the third ever spotted, though scientists suspect many more may slip past unnoticed. The visitor from the stars, designated 3I/Atlas, is likely the largest yet detected, and has been classified as a comet, or cosmic snowball. 'It looks kind of fuzzy,' Peter Veres, an astronomer with the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center, which was responsible for the official confirmation, told AFP. 'It seems that there is some gas around it, and I think one or two telescopes reported a very short tail.' Originally known as A11pl3Z before it was confirmed to be of interstellar origin, the object poses no threat to Earth, said Richard Moissl, head of planetary defense at the European Space Agency. 'It will fly deep through the Solar System, passing just inside the orbit of Mars,' but will not hit our neighboring planet, he said. Excited astronomers are still refining their calculations, but the object appears to be zooming more than 60 kilometres (37 miles) a second. This would mean it is not bound by the Sun's orbit, unlike objects that remain within the solar system. Its trajectory also 'means it's not orbiting our star, but coming from interstellar space and flying off to there again,' Moissl said. 'We think that probably these little ice balls get formed associated with star systems,' added Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. 'And then as another star passes by, tugs on the ice ball, frees it out. It goes rogue, wanders through the galaxy, and now this one is just passing us.' A Chile based observatory that is part of the NASA-funded ATLAS survey first discovered the object on Tuesday
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Science
- The Sun
Mystery 12-mile-wide ‘fuzzy object with a tail' spotted blazing through our solar system at 37 miles a SECOND, Nasa says
A MYSTERIOUS cosmic object has been spotted zooming through our solar system - and astronomers say it is only the third of its kind. The "fuzzy" object with a "short tail" is no fur-ball alien, but instead a large icy comet from interstellar space. 6 6 6 6 The celestial visitor is only the third interstellar object on record to grace our solar system, and is also likely the largest yet detected. It follows the rare visits from the famous 1I/ʻOumuamua asteroid in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019. "The fact that we see some fuzziness suggests that it is mostly ice rather than mostly rock," Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, told AFP. Peter Veres, an astronomer with the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center, which was responsible for the official confirmation, added: "It looks kind of fuzzy... It seems that there is some gas around it, and I think one or two telescopes reported a very short tail." The 12-mile-wide comet, known originally as A11pl3Z before it was confirmed to be of interstellar origin, is blazing through the solar system at great speed. While astronomers are still refining their calculations, the object appears to be zooming more than 60 kilometers (37 miles) a second. 6 The comet poses no threat to Earth, said Richard Moissl, head of planetary defense at the European Space Agency (ESA). It's closest approach of Earth, which is projected to occur in late October, will see it pass "just inside the orbit of Mars," according to Moissl. It will pass our blue dot no closer than 240 million kilometres – over 1.5 times the distance between Earth and the Sun. By the time it does make its closest path of Earth, it will be hidden by the Sun - meaning stargazers will have no chance of spotting it in the night sky. Incredible moment a fireball comet is spotted racing past stunning aurora towards Earth While it is expected to reappear by early December, this will only offer astronomers another window for study. The comet was first spotted on 1 July by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in Río Hurtado, Chile. Its unusual trajectory immediately raised suspicions that the comet came from an unknown world in interstellar space. Its current path "means it's not orbiting our star, but coming from interstellar space and flying off to there again," according to Moissl. What's the difference between an asteroid, meteor and comet? Here's what you need to know, according to Nasa... Asteroid: An asteroid is a small rocky body that orbits the Sun. Most are found in the asteroid belt (between Mars and Jupiter) but they can be found anywhere (including in a path that can impact Earth) Meteoroid: When two asteroids hit each other, the small chunks that break off are called meteoroids Meteor: If a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere, it begins to vapourise and then becomes a meteor. On Earth, it'll look like a streak of light in the sky, because the rock is burning up Meteorite: If a meteoroid doesn't vapourise completely and survives the trip through Earth's atmosphere, it can land on the Earth. At that point, it becomes a meteorite Comet: Like asteroids, a comet orbits the Sun. However rather than being made mostly of rock, a comet contains lots of ice and gas, which can result in amazing tails forming behind them (thanks to the ice and dust vaporizing) ESA's Planetary Defence Office, tasked with safeguarding Earth from potential asteroid and comet impacts, alerted astronomers who can now track the comet's path. These efforts are part of ESA's broader mission to detect, track, and characterise near-Earth objects. "What makes interstellar objects like 3I/ATLAS so extraordinary is their absolutely foreign nature," ESA wrote in a recent blog post. "They are remnants of other planetary systems, carrying with them clues about the formation of worlds far beyond our own. "It may be thousands of years until humans visit a planet in another solar system and interstellar comets offer the tantalising opportunity for us to touch something truly otherworldly." That's why the space agency is preparing the Comet Interceptor mission for 2029. ESA is set to send a spacecraft into a parking orbit in space to wait for a suitable target comet – or even a rare interstellar object - to retrieve samples from. 6
GMA Network
03-07-2025
- Science
- GMA Network
Third-ever confirmed interstellar object blazing through Solar System
Distant galaxies are seen in an image produced by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, on Pachon Hill, Coquimbo Region, Chile, June 18, 2025. RubinObs/NOIRLab/SLAC/NSF/DOE/AURA/Handout via REUTERS PARIS, France - Astronomers on Wednesday confirmed the discovery of an interstellar object racing through our Solar System -- only the third ever spotted, though scientists suspect many more may slip past unnoticed. The visitor from the stars, designated 3I/Atlas, is likely the largest yet detected, and has been classified as a comet, or cosmic snowball. "It looks kind of fuzzy," Peter Veres, an astronomer with the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center, which was responsible for the official confirmation, told AFP. "It seems that there is some gas around it, and I think one or two telescopes reported a very short tail." Originally known as A11pl3Z before it was confirmed to be of interstellar origin, the object poses no threat to Earth, said Richard Moissl, head of planetary defense at the European Space Agency. "It will fly deep through the Solar System, passing just inside the orbit of Mars," but will not hit our neighboring planet, he told AFP. Excited astronomers are still refining their calculations, but the object appears to be zooming more than 60 kilometers (37 miles) a second. This would mean it is not bound by the Sun's orbit, unlike objects that remain within the solar system. Its trajectory also "means it's not orbiting our star, but coming from interstellar space and flying off to there again," Moissl said. "We think that probably these little ice balls get formed associated with star systems," added Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. "And then as another star passes by, tugs on the ice ball, frees it out. It goes rogue, wanders through the galaxy, and now this one is just passing us." A Chile based observatory that is part of the NASA-funded ATLAS survey first discovered the object on Tuesday. Professional and amateur astronomers across the world then searched through past telescope data, tracing its trajectory back to at least June 14. The object is currently estimated to be roughly 10-20 kilometers wide, Moissl said, which would make it the largest interstellar interloper ever detected. But the object could be smaller if it is made out of ice, which reflects more light. Veres said the object will continue to brighten as it nears the Sun, bending slightly under the pull of gravity, and is expected to reach its closest point -- perihelion -- on 29 October. It will then recede and exit the Solar System over the next few years. Our third visitor This marks only the third time humanity has detected an object entering the solar system from the stars. The first, 'Oumuamua, was discovered in 2017. It was so strange that at least one prominent scientist became convinced it was an alien vessel -- though this has since been contradicted by further research. Our second interstellar visitor, 2I/Borisov, was spotted in 2019. There is no reason to suspect an artificial origin for 3I/Atlas, but teams around the world are now racing to answer key questions about things like its shape, composition, and rotation. Mark Norris, an astronomer at the UK's University of Central Lancashire, told AFP that the new object appears to be "moving considerably faster than the other two extrasolar objects that we previously discovered." The object is currently roughly around the distance from Jupiter away from Earth, Norris said. Norris pointed to modelling estimating that there could be as many as 10,000 interstellar objects drifting through the Solar System at any given time, though most would be smaller than the newly discovered object. If true, this suggests that the newly online Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile could soon be finding these dim interstellar visitors every month, Norris said. Moissl said it is not feasible to send a mission into space to intercept the new object. Still, these visitors offer scientists a rare chance to study something outside of our Solar System. For example, if we detected precursors of life such as amino acids on such an object, it would give us "a lot more confidence that the conditions for life exist in other star systems," Norris said. — Agence France-Presse
