Astronomers have confirmed that an object spotted in the outer solar system came from interstellar space. The object, named 3I/ATLAS, is currently located between the asteroid belt and Jupiter, about 416 million miles away from the Sun. It is traveling at a speed of approximately 130,000 miles per hour, making it a rare and significant discovery.
The object’s trajectory suggests that it originated from another solar system, with its path tracing back to the center of the galaxy. This makes it only the third confirmed interstellar object to reach our solar system. The first two objects were ‘Oumuamua and Borisov, both spotted in 2017 and 2019 respectively.
3I/ATLAS is provisionally classified as a comet, but its size is uncertain due to limited observations. Comets typically appear larger than their solid core, with bright halos of gas and dust surrounding them. However, astronomers cannot determine the object’s size based on its brightness alone.
The discovery of 3I/ATLAS marks an exciting opportunity for scientists to study this rare visitor from another solar system. It is expected to be visible in large telescopes until next year, providing a unique chance to learn more about this interstellar object and its origins.
Source: https://futurism.com/object-solar-system-center-galaxy