NASA Prepares to Release New Images of Ancient Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

Astronomers have been conducting extensive research on 3I/ATLAS since its initial discovery.

NASA has scheduled the release of new images on Wednesday featuring the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, which scientists have identified as a comet likely predating our own solar system.

The object was initially detected in July by an Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope situated in Rio Hurtado, Chile. Since then, astronomers have been meticulously tracking its movement. Its distinctive trajectory suggests it originates from beyond our solar system.

According to NASA, 3I/ATLAS presents no danger to Earth and will maintain a distance of approximately 170 million miles (275 million km) from our planet. Last month, the object passed within about 19 million miles (30 million km) of Mars.

NASA officials, including Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya and Nicola Fox, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, are scheduled to discuss the interstellar visitor at a briefing in Greenbelt, Maryland. They will present new imagery captured by telescopes and spacecraft.

The scientific community has been intensively studying 3I/ATLAS since its detection.

University of Oxford astrophysicist Chris Lintott explained: "This is a comet formed in another solar system, most likely more than eight billion years ago - which means it is older than our solar system, and the oldest object we've ever observed up close."

For context, our solar system formed approximately 4.5 billion years ago.

3I/ATLAS represents only the third interstellar object ever documented traveling through our solar system. The previous observations were 1I/'Oumuamua (pronounced oh-MOO-uh-MOO-uh) in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019.

"Current analysis indicates it consists of materials similar to comets in our solar system - abundant carbon dioxide, some water, carbon monoxide, and other similar molecules. We've detected cyanide - normal for comets - and significant amounts of nickel, which is somewhat surprising but not unprecedented. Similar compositions were observed in the previous interstellar comet, 2I/Borisov, and in some solar system comets," Lintott noted.

According to University of Hawaii astronomer Larry Denneau, co-principal investigator for ATLAS, 3I/ATLAS is now exiting our solar system. Its closest approach to the sun occurred in October, with its closest proximity to Earth expected in approximately one month.

The ATLAS network is a NASA-funded telescope survey developed and managed by the University of Hawaii. It comprises five telescopes globally that continuously monitor the night sky for potential Earth-threatening objects.

3I/ATLAS has generated particular interest due to one scientist's suggestion that it might be alien technology rather than a comet, citing its trajectory, composition, and other characteristics. However, most experts dismiss this theory.

"Regarding the alien spacecraft hypothesis, we follow the principle that 'extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence,'" Denneau stated. "All current evidence demonstrates behavior typical of a solar system comet. Its movement is fully explained by the sun's gravitational influence, with nothing suggesting otherwise."

"It hasn't decelerated or altered its trajectory in any unusual manner. It was obscured behind the sun for several months, and now that we can observe it again, it appears exactly where expected for a natural object," Denneau added.

Lintott was more direct: "The notion that 3I/ATLAS could be an alien spacecraft is simply unfounded. Nothing about it suggests such a possibility, which is as absurd as claiming the moon is made of cheese."