Latest news with #ʻOumuamua
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.
Al Etihad
04-07-2025
- Science
- Al Etihad
UAE observatory captures interstellar comet
4 July 2025 12:29 ABU DHABI (WAM)On 1st July, NASA discovered a unique celestial object, which was quickly confirmed to be a comet coming from another solar system. It had been drifting through space for billions of years before entering our solar system and being discovered just a few days Astronomical Observatory, located in the Abu Dhabi desert, successfully imaged the comet on the evening of Thursday, 3rd July. Observing this object was challenging due to its faint brightness, currently at magnitude 17.5, making it visible only through large observation lasted 45 minutes, during which 45 images were taken. The comet appears as a moving dot, while the stars appear as observatory submitted its results to the Minor Planet Centre (MPC) of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), making it the first Arab observatory to conduct scientific observations of this comet was discovered by the ATLAS survey system using one of its telescopes located in Chile. Initially, it was given the provisional code "A11pl3Z", then named "C/2025 N1 (ATLAS)", and finally designated "3I/ATLAS".The prefix "3I" indicates that it is the third interstellar object ever discovered. The first was the asteroid ʻOumuamua in 2017, followed by the second comet, 2I/Borisov, in 2019. The comet is currently located about 670 million kilometres from the Sun and is moving at a tremendous speed of 221,000 kilometres per hour. It poses no threat to Earth, as the closest it will come is 240 million kilometres. It will reach its closest point to the Sun on 30th October 2025, at a distance of 210 million kilometres and a predicted brightness of magnitude 11.
