A fascinating comet named 3I/ATLAS has caught the attention of scientists as it travels through our solar system. This giant comet, first spotted this summer, has been showing unusual behavior, notably a blue color and a speed boost not caused by gravity.
Harvard’s Avi Loeb, a leading scientist in the field, noted that there are signs of “non-gravitational acceleration.” He mentioned that NASA pointed this out in a recent report. It’s anticipated that 3I/ATLAS could lose up to half its mass soon due to outgassing, which might also result in a considerable debris cloud. Such phenomena are exciting because they provide insights into the nature of comets.
However, there’s a slight complication: ground-based telescopes can’t currently observe the comet directly because it’s obscured by the Sun. Experts expect it to re-emerge in early December, making observations easier.
NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are actively monitoring 3I/ATLAS using their spacecraft. Once it comes back into view, scientists will be eager to check whether it has lost mass as predicted. Loeb raised an intriguing point: if the comet appears unchanged, could its acceleration be the result of something other than natural processes, perhaps even an advanced technology?
Recently, NASA’s Sean Duffy addressed concerns about the comet on social media. He reassured everyone, saying there’s no danger from 3I/ATLAS, and emphasized that it’s simply the third known interstellar comet to pass through our solar neighborhood.
The comet’s bright blue hue has sparked debate among researchers. Loeb suggests that this color could stem from intense evaporation, which is unexpected for a typical comet. Instead of looking more reddish like most, this comet might reflect ionized carbon monoxide. He pointed out that the blue light could also suggest it’s powered by a heat source or perhaps some artificial element.
3I/ATLAS is on course to make its closest approach to the Sun on October 30 at about 130 million miles away. Following that, ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) will have opportunities to gather more data on November 2 and 25.
Moreover, the comet is expected to come nearest to Earth on December 19, at a distance of approximately 167 million miles. This moment will be critical for scientists, as it will allow for a definitive categorization of the object—either as a comet or something else entirely.
As we await these pivotal observations, the comet provides an exciting glimpse into our universe’s mysteries. Experts are keen to find out what secrets 3I/ATLAS holds as it journeys through our solar system.
For more information, check out NASA’s page on interstellar comets [here](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=3I%2FATLAS).
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Avi Loeb, European Space Agency, Nasa, blue color, Harvard University, Sun, Baird Professor of Science and Institute, scientists
