Move over, sci-fi movies—real-life astronomers might have spotted another interstellar traveler cruising through our cosmic neighborhood! 🔭 A mysterious object, temporarily named A11pl3Z, is zipping toward Mars after being detected near Jupiter. Could this be the third confirmed visitor from another star system? 🌠
The European Space Agency (ESA) announced the discovery this week, with NASA also keeping tabs. While it’s harmless and won’t get closer to the sun than Mars’ orbit, scientists are buzzing about its origins. Is it a rocky asteroid, an icy comet, or something else? 🤔
Spanish astrophysicist Josep Trigo-Rodriguez says the object’s unusual trajectory and extreme speed hint at an interstellar journey. His team estimates it’s about 40 kilometers wide—roughly the size of a small city! 🏙️
If confirmed, A11pl3Z would join Oumuamua (2017’s cigar-shaped enigma) and Comet 21/Borisov (2019’s icy guest) in the cosmic hall of fame. But for now, telescopes worldwide are locked onto this space oddity. 📡 "Every interstellar visitor is a treasure trove of data," says Trigo-Rodriguez. Stay tuned! 👾
