Interstellar Objectโ 3l/ATLAS exhibits Regular Pulsations, Resembling aโ ‘Heartbeat’
WASHINGTON โD.C. – An interstellar object, designated 3l/ATLAS, is exhibitingโฃ a unique and repeating pattern ofโฃ brightening – a “thermalโข pulsation” – thatโข occurs every 16.16 hours,โฃ according to a new โขstudy by astronomersโ from europe and โAfrica.The revelation offers fresh โinsight into the composition and behavior of objects originating outside our solarโ system.
While the rhythmic brightening initially sparked speculation about a possible artificial origin,โค researchers believe the phenomenon is likely due to the โobject’sโ rotation as โขa comet.The study, published in Astronomyโข & Astrophysics, notes that 3l/ATLAS displays characteristics consistent with weakly active โcomets from the outer Solar System, despite it’s interstellar provenance.
“it shows characteristics typical of weakly active โคcomets from the outer Solar System,despite its interstellarโ origin,” theโฃ authors wrote inโ their published paper.
The pulsations are thought to be caused by a process where a pocket of ice on the comet’s โsurface rotates to face the Sun, triggering a solar flare โค-โค known as anโค antitail – and causing a temporary increase inโ brightness. As Harvard astronomer โAvi Loeb explained, “In the context of a natural comet, โthis phenomenon can โbe โproduced by a solar flare โฃ(antitail), which is only triggered whenโ a โlarge pocket of ice on one โคside of the nucleus rotates toward the Sun.” He added thatโ the resulting coma, theโ cloud of gas and dustโ surrounding the comet, consistently expands when the ice pocket โฃis sunward.
Astronomers will have a prime opportunity โคto study 3l/ATLAS in greater detail on December 19th, whenโ it makes its closest approach to Earth at โa distance โขofโ approximately 270 million kilometers. This flyby promises to yield valuable data about interstellarโค objects and the materials theyโ carry from beyond our solar system.
