Astronomers spot potential ‘interstellar visitor’ A11pl3Z shooting through the solar system toward Earth
Update: Wednesday July 2, NASA has confirmed that A11PL3Z is an interstellar object And gave it a new official name – 3i / Atlas. The agency also revealed that the object is a comet, not an asteroid, and updated other information on its trajectory via the solar system. You can see the interstellar order for yourself in a Stream live by the virtual telescope project Thursday July 3.
Astronomers have spotted what they think is an “interstellar object” that rushed through the solar system – And he goes to us. The visiting space object, potentially the third of its kind never seen, will make its approach closest to the sun in about four months, before leaving our cosmic district forever.
The newly discovered object, currently doubled A11PL3Zwas spotted for the first time in the data collected between June 25 and 29 by the latest asteroid alert system (Atlas), which automatically scans the night sky using telescopes in Hawaii and South Africa. The mystery object was confirmed both by the center of NASA for studies of objects close to the earth and the minor planet center of the international astronomical union on Tuesday, July 1 Earthsky.org.
A11Pl3z is most likely a big asteroidOr perhaps a comet, potentially extending up to 12 miles (20 kilometers). It moves to the interior solar system at around 152,000 MPH (245,000 km / h) and approaches us the part of the night sky where the bar of Milky Way is located.
Based on the speed and trajectory of A11PL3Z, the experts think that it comes from the gravitational influence of the sun and has enough momentum to shoot directly in our cosmic district without slowing down. However, no more observations are necessary to say it with certainty.
Until now, only two confirmed interstellar visitors have never been spotted: the Comète 2i / Borisov, who was seen navigating in the solar system in 2019; and ‘Oumaumua, a cigar -shaped object that made the headlines in 2017 when some astronomers argued that it was potentially an extraterrestrial probebefore the experts show that it was Most likely a spatial hydrogen spatial rocking rock.
But scientists have long suspected that many more interstellar interlopers Probably pass through our cosmic district Without ever being detected.
In relation: 1 million interstellar objects – each larger than the statue of freedom – can be hidden in the external solar system
A11PL3Z is currently about 3.8 times further from the sun than the earth. Its first close approach to a planet will take place on October 3, when it is relatively close to March. Shortly after, he will reach his point closest to the sun, or perihelion, Oct 23 Universe today.
The earth will be on the other side of the sun as a11pl3z during the solar overflight of the object, it therefore poses no risk for our planet. The object will probably be his approach closest to the earth in December, during his return trip to the solar system.
The researchers will continue to study the object in the weeks and months to come to find out more about its size, shape and origins. And, in relation to the moment when the previous interstellar objects passed, we now have better ways to follow and imagine the mysterious Spatial Rock.
For example, the VERA C. Rubin Observatory – the most powerful optical telescope in the world, which recently published his first images – will probably be fully operational when A11Pl3z is closest to us, and the telescope is exceptionally good to identify moving objects, such as asteroids.
Some researchers also proposed to use Mars Rovers de la Nasa to photograph the object because it flies near the red planet.
AVI LOEBAstronomer at Harvard University which first proposed that ‘Oumaumua could be an extraterrestrial probealso suggested using the James Webb space telescope To seek signs of “non -gravitational” acceleration ” – indicating, perhaps, a kind of artificial propulsion system – in A11PL3Z, via a Post on medium.
