3I/ATLAS, an interstellar comet moving at high speed toward the interior of the solar system

A new comet of interstellar origin, designated 3I/ATLAS, has been detected by astronomers using the ATLAS telescope array in Chile. It is the third known object from outside the Solar System, after the asteroid Oumuamua (2017) and Comet Borisov (2019) . Its discovery, which is being analyzed by the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center, has generated enthusiasm in the scientific community.

The object, initially designated A11pl3Z, was more than 670 million kilometers from the Sun when it was discovered on July 1. Scientists estimate that 3I/ATLAS has a diameter between 20 and 40 km and is moving on a hyperbolic trajectory, confirming that it is not gravitationally bound to the solar system. Its speed of 245,000 kilometers per hour reinforces the hypothesis that it originates from another star.

Calculations indicate that 3I/ATLAS will reach its closest point to the Sun—perihelion—in October, at 1.4 astronomical units (AU), roughly equivalent to the distance from the Sun to Earth. It will come no closer than 240 million kilometers (150 million miles) to Earth, so it poses no risk. Its closest approach to our planet will occur in December, according to The New York Times , at 257 million kilometers (165 million miles).

Unlike Oumuamua , whose appearance has generated debate due to its strange shape and behavior, ATLAS displays typical comet characteristics. It has a short tail, although some astronomers have reported difficulty visually confirming these features due to its still moderate brightness. The comet has already been included in observation programs for telescopes such as Hubble and the James Webb.