Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS to Continue Outward Journey After Close Earth Approach
Washington D.C. – The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, currently making it’s closest approach to Earth, will continue its trajectory out of our solar system following its perihelion – closest approach to the sun – in late September 2023, according to observations from NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). The comet,discovered in early 2023,originated outside our Solar System and is currently exhibiting unusual behavior that has captivated the scientific community.
3I/ATLAS is notable for its exceptionally large non-gravitational acceleration, exceeding what can be explained by typical ice outgassing. This acceleration requires an implausible amount of mass loss to account for using conventional models.Data indicates the comet is ejecting massive jets of material, a million times more powerful than the solar wind, in both directions – toward and away from the Sun.
further analysis reveals an atypical chemical composition, with unusually high levels of carbon dioxide and nickel, suggesting formation in a vastly different chemical habitat. Scientists estimate the comet’s age to be up to 7 billion years or more, predating our Solar System.
While the comet’s anomalies prompted speculation from some, including astrophysicist Avi Loeb, regarding a possible artificial origin, the consensus among most experts is that 3I/ATLAS is a natural, albeit unusual, celestial object.
Following its perihelion, 3I/ATLAS will gradually recede from the Sun and Earth, continuing its journey on an outbound trajectory through interstellar space. NASA and ESA continue to monitor the comet, gathering data to better understand its composition and the source of its anomalous behavior.