Scientists found 3I/ATLAS, possibly the oldest interstellar comet, predating our solar system. Its unique composition, rich in organic compounds and water ice, offers rare insights into the Milky Way's galactic history, star formation, and planetary building blocks. This discovery advances understanding of cosmic origins - important for UPSC Science & Technology.
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Picture Courtesy: THE HINDU
Scientists discover 3I/ATLAS, possibly the oldest comet, predating our entire solar system by more than 3 billion years.
Scientists using the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile first spotted it, and named it 3I/ATLAS. The "I" in its name stands for "interstellar," meaning it comes from outside our own solar system.
Its Orbit => It follows a "highly elliptical orbit" around the Sun, unlike the more circular paths of planets. Its orbit is "hyperbolic", and it will exit our solar system. Objects from our own solar system orbit the Sun repeatedly.
Its Speed => It is moving at the speed of about 57-68 kilometers per second, too high for an object that originated within our Sun's gravitational pull.
Its Origin Direction => Its path traces back to the direction of the constellation Sagittarius, indicating it came from deep space.
3I/ATLAS will not pose any threat to Earth. NASA has confirmed this. Its closest approach to our planet will still be a very safe distance of about 270 million kilometers away. This is much farther than the distance between Earth and Mars.
A comet is a small celestial body made mostly of ice (water ice, carbon dioxide ice, methane ice, etc.), mixed with dust, rock particles, and frozen gases.
When they are far from the Sun => Comets are completely frozen, dormant, and appear very dark. They are relatively small then, just a few kilometers (a few miles) wide.
When they get close to the Sun => As a comet approaches the Sun, the Sun's heat warms it up. The ice inside begins to turn directly into gas, skipping the liquid stage. This gas and dust burst out from the comet's core.
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Important Note: A comet's tail always points away from the Sun, no matter which direction the comet is moving.
Short-Period Comets
Long-Period Comets:
Interstellar Comets:
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. What is the process called when a comet begins to release gases near the Sun? A) Melting B) Evaporation C) Outgassing D) Condensation Answer: C Explanation: The process of a comet releasing gases is called outgassing. |
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