Interstellar Comet 3i/Atlas Imaged by chinese Probe Tianwen-1
BEIJING - ChinaS Tianwen-1 probe has captured images of an extraordinarily rare visitor from beyond our solar system: comet 3i/Atlas. The images were taken at a distance of 30 million kilometers as the comet passed through our solar system, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
3i/Atlas is only the third interstellar object-originating from another star system-ever observed passing through our solar system. Discovered a few months ago, the comet travels at approximately 210,000 kilometers per hour. The tianwen-1 probe, orbiting Mars sence 2021, was able to photograph the comet during a recent close approach to the red planet.
Photographing an object moving at 85 kilometers per second at that distance presented a significant challenge,but the resulting images “clearly show the comet’s distinctive features,” CNSA stated. While the comet itself is roughly 5.5 kilometers in diameter, its luminous coma-the surrounding gaseous envelope-extends for thousands of kilometers.
CNSA experts are continuing to analyse the data,but many aspects of the comet’s origins remain unknown. It originated from the direction of the Sagittarius constellation, near the center of the Milky Way, and may be older than any object within our solar system. The precise details of its formation and ejection into interstellar space are currently unclear.
NASA has confirmed that 3i/Atlas will not enter Earth’s orbit, and will continue its journey into interstellar space, unlikely to be observed again.
