Comet 3I/ATLAS is making waves in the astronomy world. While some conspiracy theories swirl, the truth is much simpler. This interstellar comet, discovered on July 2 by the ATLAS survey, has a fascinating story without any need for extraterrestrial drama.
What’s special about 3I/ATLAS? It has a highly eccentric orbit, indicating it comes from outside our solar system. Like other comets, it has a coma and a tail. Bryce Bolin, a research scientist, noted that the comet has developed an “anti-tail,” caused by small dust particles reacting to solar pressure. It’s turning green due to gases released during its journey, which is typical for comets.
3I/ATLAS is zipping through space at an incredible speed of 58 kilometers per second. Interestingly, the European Space Agency has plans to observe this comet more closely through its upcoming Comet Interceptor mission aimed at studying comets directly.
It will reach perihelion on October 29, getting closest to the Sun at 1.36 AU. This means it won’t be visible from Earth until November when it rises low in the dawn sky.
Some have speculated wildly about its trajectory, but there’s nothing unusual about it moving retrograde. Most comets behave similarly. Plus, 3I/ATLAS passed close to Mars earlier this month, sparking excitement among astronomers and amassing attention on platforms like social media. NASA’s Perseverance rover even captured its faint glow, which stirred up discussions online.
In a historical context, 3I/ATLAS is only the third interstellar comet observed, following 1I/Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov. Unlike its predecessors, this comet was spotted while still entering our solar system, allowing for more detailed observations. Experts believe advancements in telescopes, like the Vera C. Rubin telescope set to launch soon, will increase our chances of finding more interstellar objects in the future.
As we keep looking up, there’s plenty to marvel at with 3I/ATLAS, proving once more that real science is often stranger—and more enchanting—than fiction.
For more details on interstellar objects, you can check out NASA’s [official site](https://nasa.gov).
