Astronomers have made an exciting discovery. They confirmed that an object named 3I/ATLAS is zooming through our solar system. This isn’t just any object; it comes from interstellar space. It’s only the third one we’ve confirmed from outside our solar system, following ‘Oumuamua in 2018 and the comet 2I/Borisov.
Scientists are eager to learn more about 3I/ATLAS. Experts from the University of Michigan, Aster Taylor and Darryl Seligman from Michigan State University, believe it’s likely to be a comet. They suggest that “comet-like interstellar objects are more common than strange ones like ‘Oumuamua.”
One fascinating detail is that 3I/ATLAS is traveling at a staggering speed of about 134,000 miles per hour. According to Taylor and Seligman, it could be between 3 to 11 billion years old. They explain that gravitational interactions in the Milky Way speed objects up over time. This might mean that our galaxy has been creating interstellar objects for more than 13 billion years—almost since its formation! In fact, 3I/ATLAS might even be older than our Sun, which is around 4.6 billion years old.
Scientists have traced 3I/ATLAS’s path back to the center of the Milky Way, but how it got here is still a puzzle. Some experts believe it might have formed around a star or been ejected by a nearby star.
We still don’t know the size of 3I/ATLAS. For comparison, 2I/Borisov had a tail nearly 100,000 miles long, while ‘Oumuamua was much smaller, between 330 and 3,300 feet in length. Unlike ‘Oumuamua, which was spotted late in its journey, we still have time to study 3I/ATLAS as it travels.
With NASA’s James Webb and Hubble space telescopes, we may soon get a closer look. These instruments could help us learn about its size, composition, and how it reacts to heat. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which recently began operations, will also contribute to our understanding. It has already identified over 2,000 new asteroids.
Interestingly, funding for NASA’s science programs is currently under threat due to proposed budget cuts. Taylor and Seligman pointed out the importance of the public’s interest in 3I/ATLAS. They believe it could help rally support for ongoing space science funding.
In summary, 3I/ATLAS opens a window into both our galaxy’s history and the future of astronomical research. The excitement surrounding it emphasizes the need for consistent funding for space science, ensuring we can continue to explore the universe.
For more information, check out this article on 3I/ATLAS on Space.com.
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interstellar space, Michigan State University, solar system, Aster Taylor, star system, interstellar object, Darryl Seligman, mysterious object, ATLAS
