Third interstellar object officially detected: 3I/ATLAS advances toward the Solar System
NASA's science editorial team confirmed in a statement on its website that on July 1, the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey telescope reported the first detection of a comet originating from interstellar space. Originating in the constellation of Sagittarius, this interstellar comet was officially named 3I/ATLAS.
It is currently approximately 670 million kilometers (420 million miles) away.
Observations prior to discovery Since then, previous observations have been found in the archives of three ATLAS telescopes located around the world, as well as the Zwicky Transient Observatory at Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, California.
These previous observations date back to June 14. In addition, several telescopes have recorded new observations since the object was discovered.
Does the comet pose a danger to Earth? The comet poses no danger to Earth, as it will remain at a minimum distance of 1.6 astronomical units (approximately 240 million km or 150 million miles). It is currently about 4.5 astronomical units (approximately 670 million km or 416 million miles) from the Sun.
3I/ATLAS is expected to reach its closest point to the Sun around October 30, at a distance of 1.4 astronomical units (about 210 million km or 130 million miles), just inside the orbit of Mars.
3I/ATLAS is expected to reach its closest point to the Sun around October 30. Photo: X: @PolymarketIntel
Astronomers around the world are studying the size and physical characteristics of this interstellar comet. 3I/ATLAS is expected to be visible with Earth-based telescopes until September, when it will approach the Sun too close to be observed.
It is expected to reappear in early December after passing on the far side of the Sun, allowing for further observations.
Future of detecting objects from interstellar space According to DW , Mark Norris, an astronomer at the University of Central Lancashire in the United Kingdom, explained models that estimate the presence of up to 10,000 interstellar objects transiting the solar system at any given time, although most would be smaller than the newly discovered one.
If this estimate is correct, the recently opened Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile could begin detecting these faint interstellar visitors on a monthly basis, Norris said.
For his part, Richard Moissl, head of planetary defense at the European Space Agency, indicated that it would not be feasible to launch a space mission to intercept the new object.
However, these bodies offer a valuable opportunity for scientists to study material originating outside our solar system.
For example, if compounds like amino acids, precursors to life, were detected in one of these objects, "it would give us much greater certainty that favorable conditions for life exist in other star systems," Norris explained.
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