Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have made a fascinating discovery. They’ve spotted 3I/ATLAS, the third-known visitor from beyond our Solar System. This interstellar object is making an impressive approach toward the Sun, unveiling secrets from deep space.
3I/ATLAS is about 3.8 astronomical units away—nearly four times the distance from Earth to the Sun. Even at this vast distance, it’s already showing signs of activity. When its surface heats up, it releases dust, creating a faint tail that trails behind it. This gives scientists a rare chance to study materials from another star system.
Unlike asteroids, which remain mostly unchanged, 3I/ATLAS acts like a comet. As the Sun’s heat affects it, this object ejects dust particles. Research led by David Jewitt from UCLA utilized Hubble’s advanced resolution to discover that it’s losing between 6 and 60 kilograms of dust each second. That’s like losing the weight of a small car every few minutes!
Determining the size of 3I/ATLAS is tricky since researchers can only see the dust cloud surrounding it, not the solid core directly. However, they estimate its nucleus could be less than 2.8 kilometers in radius, given it reflects just 4% of the light hitting it.
Understanding these interstellar objects helps scientists learn about their origins. The activity of 3I/ATLAS may point to its composition. If its behavior is driven by carbon monoxide turning to gas, the nucleus might be at least 0.16 km wide. Knowing this is important because it reveals clues about the materials it carries.
Interstellar visitors like 3I/ATLAS are rare. Before this one, only two others have been confirmed: ‘Oumuamua in 2017 and Borisov in 2019. Each of these visitors offers unique insights into the chemistry and physical properties shaped by distant star systems.
As we continue studying 3I/ATLAS, we gain valuable knowledge about these cosmic visitors and the environments they come from. This research provides a glimpse into the broader galaxy and the diverse worlds beyond our own.
For more detailed information about 3I/ATLAS and its journey, you can check out the original article on Universe Today.
