Astronomers are analyzing data from the third interstellar object to have visited our solar system. The comet, named 3I/ATLAS, will pass by Mars this week on its fast journey through space. Researchers found an unusual “extreme abundance ratio” of nickel and iron in its gas plume, which makes it stand out compared to other comets.
The team used data from the European Very Large Telescope’s UVES instrument to track how the spectrum of 3I/ATLAS’ trail changed as it moved closer to the Sun. They discovered that nickel was present throughout their readings, while iron was only detected when the comet drew within 2.64 astronomical units (AU) of the Sun.
The researchers were surprised by these findings since the distance between comets and the Sun makes it unlikely for metallic grains like nickel and iron to vaporize. This “carbon-depleted comet” has unique properties that set it apart from other objects in the solar system.
However, as 3I/ATLAS’ distance changes, its characteristics may become similar to those of solar system comets. The team suggests two possibilities: either it’s a metal-rich object or it produces more metals due to chemical anomalies.
Astronomer Avi Loeb believes that NASA should use the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to study 3I/ATLAS closer, which could help estimate its diameter and potentially reveal more about this mysterious object. He also raises the possibility that 3I/ATLAS could be a “technological artifact” sent to our solar system, which some scientists have previously suggested but can’t rule out.
The discovery of 3I/ATLAS is still puzzling, and further research is needed to determine its exact nature and properties.
Source: https://futurism.com/future-society/object-producing-metals-nickel-iron