The comet 3I/ATLAS is the third interstellar object confirmed in our solar system. It is traveling fast enough to escape the sun's gravitational pull. After passing the orbit of Jupiter, it will soon reach Mars and then return to interstellar space. Discovered on July 1 by Larry Denneau, astronomers have mobilized powerful telescopes, including JWST and Hubble, to study this potentially ancient comet. The urgency of observations is underscored by its swift passage through the solar system, with researchers eager to gain insights into its features.
The discovery of 3I/ATLAS marks only the third known interstellar object in our solar system, zipping past the orbit of Jupiter and set to escape our sun's gravity.
3I/ATLAS, a suspected comet from another star, was cast adrift in the Milky Way and is on a hyperbolic trajectory, soon heading back to interstellar space.
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