NASA has explained that Comet 3I/ATLAS is an interesting discovery. It's a traveler from far away in another part of the galaxy, and scientists are carefully studying it as it passes through our solar system. Comet 3I/ATLAS is not an ordinary comet.
A new interstellar object, 3I/ATLAS, is attracting the attention of the entire scientific community. 3I/ATLAS is an interstellar object that is about to pass by Earth.
The International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) has announced a special global campaign to monitor this object, which has entered our solar system from outside.
IAWN is a United Nations-backed organization that monitors space objects that may pose a threat to Earth.
Purpose of the campaign?
The campaign will run from November 27 this year to January 27 next. During this period, astronomers from all over the world will simultaneously observe this mysterious object and collect data. This initiative aims to more accurately predict the paths of comets, as their gas clouds and tails make it difficult to determine their exact locations.
Leading scientists, including Harvard professor Avi Loeb, have warned that 3I/Atlas has some unusual properties. They also suggest that the object may have signs of alien technology. Some describe it as a major event that could lead to major changes. It is predicted to come closest to Earth on December 19.
Eight features of 3I/Atlas
1. Unusual orbit: Its path is almost perfectly aligned with the orbits of the planets - this is unlikely to happen by chance.
2. Sun-to-sun jet: It has a jet of material directed towards the Sun - opposite of what is expected for comets.
3. Enormous size: It is much heavier and faster than the previous interstellar visitors 'Oumuamua and Borisov.
4. Exact time: Passes by Mars, Venus, and Jupiter.
5. Metallic hints: Its gas cloud contains more nickel than iron - something commonly found in man-made alloys.
6. Low water content: Only about 4 percent water - most comets are made up mostly of water.
7. Strange light reflection: It reflects light in a way no other comet has ever shown.
8. Coincidence with 'Wow! Signal': It came from the same general direction as a mysterious, unexplained radio signal detected in 1977.
Loeb says the odds of all of these features occurring naturally are extremely low (one in ten quadrillion). Another important point is that no spacecraft has yet been able to observe 3I/Atlas up close. However, Loeb added that NASA's Juno spacecraft, which is near Jupiter, could have gotten closer if it had enough fuel.
What's next?
3I/Atlas has made its closest approach to the sun on October 29. If it is a technical object, scientists expect it to make a sudden movement or eject small objects using the sun's energy.
Loeb's Galileo project team is preparing to monitor for possible unusual activity at this time. According to Loeb, "it will come within 29 million kilometers of Mars by the end of this week." Several orbiters from NASA, the European Space Agency and the Chinese Space Agency are there. Loeb expressed hope that they will get more information from them and will be able to obtain images with a pixel size of 30 kilometers.
When will it be closest to Earth?
According to the new data, 3I/Atlas is estimated to weigh more than 33 billion tons. It will make its closest approach to Earth on December 19. By Christmas, scientists hope to have a clearer idea of whether it is just another ordinary comet or something more fascinating from outside the solar system.
What next?
The most crucial moment was on October 29, the day 3I/ATLAS will make its closest approach to the sun. Scientists say the event will reveal whether it is a natural comet or something unusual. As it passes the sun, telescopes around the world will observe sudden changes in brightness, speed or path.
If 3I/ATLAS is indeed a technological object like a space probe, experts believe it may be using the sun's heat and gravity to perform a deliberate maneuver, such as 'gravitational slingshots'. It is simply a spacecraft using the planet's orbital motion to gain momentum to move further.
In any case, the coming weeks will be exciting for astronomers and enthusiasts alike.
