Interstellar Object 3l/ATLAS exhibits Regular Pulsations, Resembling a ‘Heartbeat’
WASHINGTON D.C. – An interstellar object, designated 3l/ATLAS, is exhibiting a unique and repeating pattern of brightening – a “thermal pulsation” – that occurs every 16.16 hours, according to a new study by astronomers from europe and Africa.The revelation offers fresh insight into the composition and behavior of objects originating outside our solar system.
While the rhythmic brightening initially sparked speculation about a possible artificial origin, researchers believe the phenomenon is likely due to the object’s rotation as a comet.The study, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, notes that 3l/ATLAS displays characteristics consistent with weakly active comets from the outer Solar System, despite it’s interstellar provenance.
“it shows characteristics typical of weakly active comets from the outer Solar System,despite its interstellar origin,” the authors wrote in their published paper.
The pulsations are thought to be caused by a process where a pocket of ice on the comet’s surface rotates to face the Sun, triggering a solar flare - known as an antitail – and causing a temporary increase in brightness. As Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb explained, “In the context of a natural comet, this phenomenon can be produced by a solar flare (antitail), which is only triggered when a large pocket of ice on one side of the nucleus rotates toward the Sun.” He added that the resulting coma, the cloud of gas and dust surrounding the comet, consistently expands when the ice pocket is sunward.
Astronomers will have a prime opportunity to study 3l/ATLAS in greater detail on December 19th, when it makes its closest approach to Earth at a distance of approximately 270 million kilometers. This flyby promises to yield valuable data about interstellar objects and the materials they carry from beyond our solar system.
