Expectation is growing among the astronomical community regarding the arrival of 3I/ATLASthe third interstellar comet detected in history. Coming from another star system, this visitor will reach its closest point to the Sun on October 29to some 200 million kilometersbefore embarking on their final departure from the solar system.
According to the NASA and the International Network of Asteroid Alert (IAWN)3I/ATLAS will be the subject of an international observation campaign due to its unusual characteristics. Unlike traditional kites, their hyperbolic trajectory will take it to circle the Sun like a horseshoe before disappearing into interstellar space more than 220,000 km/hwithout representing any type of threat to the Tierra.
An enigmatic visitor from deep space
According to Wiredthe comet presents chemical and dynamic properties never before observed. Preliminary analyzes reveal an anomalous composition: it contains nickel, but not irona rarity among known icy objects.
Furthermore, its tail seems to orient itself towards the suninstead of moving away from it, a phenomenon that astronomers attribute to its volatile structure and to the premature evaporation of unknown materials.
These particularities have made 3I/ATLAS in a natural laboratory for the study of interstellar material. Scientists believe that its origin could be traced back to a star much older than the Solwhich would allow us to better understand how the first planetary systems in the galaxy.
Over the next few months, telescopes from observatories in Hawaii, Chile and Spain They will continue its evolution until it becomes practically imperceptible.
Between science and speculation
While the Right organizes its scientific observation, the comet has also been the subject of more controversial theories. The Harvard Physicist Avi Loebknown for his interest in the search for extraterrestrial intelligencehas suggested that 3I/ATLAS could show “technological behavior,” an idea without empirical support but that has generated debate.
In a recent talk, Loeb He joked about the possibility that the comet was a “mothership,” although he himself admits that the probability of that being true is minimal.
Wired clarifies that the NASA has not activated any planetary defense protocol, as some rumors claimed. In fact, the study of 3I/ATLAS is part of the routine follow-up exercises coordinated by the UN to measure the orbital precision of space objects. Its observation seeks to improve detection and analysis methods, not to respond to a real threat.
The approach of 3I/ATLAS will mark a milestone for the modern science. For the third time, humanity will be able to observe an interstellar body up close, a rare opportunity to study materials that formed outside the solar system.
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The post 31/Atlas: The interstellar comet that will visit the solar system this October 29 appeared first on Veritas News.
