Move over, 'Oumuamua and Borisov—there’s a new interstellar traveler in town! Astronomers have detected a mysterious comet named 3I/ATLAS, only the third confirmed visitor from beyond our solar system. Spotted by NASA’s ATLAS telescope in Chile, this icy wanderer is cruising at a blazing 60 km/s from the Milky Way’s center. Talk about a speed demon! 🌠
What’s the Tea? ☄️
While its exact composition remains a mystery, scientists say 3I/ATLAS resembles 2019’s 2I/Borisov but packs more size—possibly 10 km wide. It’s currently 670 million km from Earth and will swing closer to the sun later this year, potentially putting on a dazzling show. "The coma [gas cloud] could grow dramatically," says astronomer Larry Denneau. "It’s like watching a celestial snowball fight in real-time!"
No Need for Armageddon Prep 🛸
Before you panic: 3I/ATLAS will stay at least 240 million km from Earth. Researchers are racing to study its makeup using larger telescopes. Could it carry clues about alien star systems? Stay tuned—this cosmic guest might drop some interstellar gossip before leaving our neighborhood! 🔭
