CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — This week, a comet from another star is making a close pass by Earth. Known as 3I/Atlas, it was discovered this summer and will come within 167 million miles of our planet on Friday, marking its closest approach.
The comet is an ice ball estimated to measure between 1,444 feet (440 meters) and 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) across. NASA has been closely observing it with their telescopes. However, as it moves away, it’s getting dimmer. This week is a great chance for amateur astronomers to catch a glimpse through their telescopes.
After its visit to Earth, 3I/Atlas will be zipping by Jupiter in March, getting as close as 33 million miles (53 million kilometers) from the giant planet. It won’t return to our solar system for another few decades, likely not until the mid-2030s, according to Paul Chodas, who directs NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies.
This comet is the third known interstellar object to journey through our solar system. Interstellar comets like 3I/Atlas come from star systems far away, unlike home-grown comets like Halley’s, which start from the frigid outskirts of our solar system.
The first confirmed interstellar visitor was spotted in 2017 by a telescope in Hawaii. Two years later, a Crimean amateur astronomer found another. This summer, NASA’s Atlas telescope in Chile caught sight of 3I/Atlas while looking for potential asteroid threats. Scientists believe this latest comet might have originated in a much older star system, making it especially intriguing for study.
Interestingly, interstellar comets are rare. While there are thousands of known comets in our solar system, few come from beyond our celestial neighborhood. Each discovery expands our understanding of the universe’s diversity and history.
As people watch the skies, it’s fascinating to think about where this comet may have come from and the secrets it might hold. The study of such comets can offer insights into the early solar systems, enriching our knowledge of cosmic formation.
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Science, Astronomy, Space exploration, Technology, Planets, Meteors and meteorites, U.S. news, General news, Oddities, Article, 128411373
