Tag: Interstellar Objects
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What 3I/ATLAS Could Reveal About the Milky Way’s Ancient Frontier
Introduction: A visitor from the galaxy’s edge The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS has captivated astronomers and space enthusiasts alike as it speeds through the inner solar system. First spotted in late June and confirmed by NASA in early July, this icy wanderer is not only the third known interstellar object to visit our cosmic neighborhood, but…
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What 3I/ATLAS Can Reveal About the Milky Way’s Ancient Border
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: A Voyager From the Galaxy’s Old Frontier Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS has captured the imagination of the public and scientists alike. As it speeds through the inner solar system, its origin story remains a puzzle. A recent study using Gaia data and orbital backtracking proposes that this icy visitor could originate from the…
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ESA Recycles Mars and Jupiter Missions to Track Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS
ESA Turns Mars and Jupiter Missions toward 3I/ATLAS The European Space Agency (ESA) is repurposing a fleet of its planetary missions to monitor the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it speeds through the inner solar system. First spotted in July 2025 by Chile’s ATLAS telescope, 3I/ATLAS is only the third confirmed interstellar object, distinguished by its…
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3I/ATLAS: How Mars and Jupiter Probes Are Studying the Interstellar Comet
Interstellar visitor arrives: 3I/ATLAS in our planetary backyard The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS has captured the attention of planetary scientists as it barrels through the inner solar system. First spotted in July 2025 by an ATLAS telescope in Chile, the object became only the third known interstellar traveler to visit our cosmic neighborhood. Its extrasolar origin…
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The Sunward Glow of 3I/ATLAS: A Hubble Insight
Introduction to 3I/ATLAS The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS has captivated astronomers since its discovery. This intriguing celestial body, known for its elongated shape and composition, has provided a wealth of information about the characteristics of interstellar objects. A recent analysis, which I co-authored with my colleague Eric Keto, presents a striking observation of its sunlight glow…
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Unveiling the Sunward Glow of 3I/ATLAS in Hubble’s Lens
Introduction to 3I/ATLAS 3I/ATLAS, also known as the interstellar object, has recently come under the spotlight due to a fascinating analysis of its characteristics as seen through the Hubble Space Telescope. This object is the second known interstellar visitor to our solar system, and its study offers profound insights into the nature of celestial bodies…
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Exploring the Technosignatures of Interstellar Objects
The recent discovery of 3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar object (ISO), has fueled ongoing discussions regarding the nature of such cosmic wanderers. Could these enigmatic celestial bodies be technological in origin? This question invites a wide range of opinions from amateur astronomers on YouTube to esteemed astrophysicists at institutions like Harvard. Interstellar objects, as the…
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What Technosignatures Would Interstellar Objects Have?
The recent discovery of the third known interstellar object (ISO), designated 3I/ATLAS, has reignited the captivating debate surrounding the potential technosignatures these objects might carry. Since the initial observation of the first ISO, ‘Oumuamua, in 2017, scientists and enthusiasts alike have pondered: could these enigmatic visitors from beyond our solar system harbor evidence of advanced…