A brand new picture reveals the rising tail of a comet from one other star system streaking throughout our photo voltaic system.
The picture of comet 3I/ATLAS was captured on Aug. 27 utilizing one of many telescopes on the Worldwide Gemini Observatory in Chile throughout a public outreach occasion permitting college students to work with astronomers.
The comet is just the third-known interstellar object to move by our photo voltaic system. It poses no risk to Earth, NASA beforehand mentioned.
Comet 3I/ATLAS has been photographed a number of occasions since its discovery in July. In early August, NASA and the European House Company launched pictures taken by the Hubble House Telescope. It was about 277 million miles away from Earth when the telescope captured it.
The rising tail and coma of Comet 3I/ATLAS.
NOIRLab
The options are “significantly more extended than they appeared in earlier images,” in accordance with astronomers. Which means the comet has change into “more active” because it travels by the interior photo voltaic system.
NASA beforehand mentioned the comet is anticipated to make its closest strategy to the solar in late October and move between the orbits of Mars and Earth. The comet is anticipated to stay seen by September, then get too near the solar to watch till it reappears on the opposite aspect of the photo voltaic physique in early December.
Comet 3I/ATLAS strikes throughout a dense star subject.
NOIRLab
Interstellar comets are very uncommon, astronomers mentioned. Solely two different examples have ever been confirmed: 1I/’Oumuamu in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019.
“As 3I/ATLAS speeds back into the depths of interstellar space, this image is both a scientific milestone and a source of wonder,” mentioned Karen Meech, astronomer on the College of Hawai’i Institute for Astronomy and chief of the statement program, in an announcement. “It reminds us that our Solar System is just one part of a vast and dynamic galaxy — and that even the most fleeting visitors can leave a lasting impact.”
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