The mysterious object speeding towards Earth has intrigued scientists with its unique characteristics.
In July, astronomers discovered 3I/ATLAS using the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile, funded by NASA.
This marks only the third time an object from interstellar space has been detected, meaning it originated outside our Solar System.
The first two such objects were Oumuamua in 2017 and Borisov in 2019.
This newly identified object, the largest of the known interstellar objects, is estimated to be approximately 7 miles (11.2 kilometers) wide, prompting scientists to investigate further.
Traveling at speeds exceeding 41 miles per second, 3I/ATLAS is moving too fast to be captured by the Sun’s gravity. Initially, there were concerns it might pose a threat to Earth.
Harvard physicist Avi Loeb speculated that 3I/ATLAS might be an artificial structure, possibly a mothership sent from another planet.
Loeb considered the implications of sending a message to the object but concluded it might not be prudent, as it could perceive us as a threat.
However, other experts, including those from NASA, have concluded that the object is likely a comet. It is expected to make its closest approach to our Sun around Halloween, before continuing its journey into the depths of space.
Recently, the James Webb Space Telescope, operated by the US space agency, has provided more information on this strange object.
By analyzing the light from 3I/ATLAS, scientists have identified the gases in its ‘coma,’ the visible cloud of dust surrounding the comet.
The preliminary findings show that the coma is predominantly composed of carbon dioxide, rather than water vapor, which is unusual for comets within our Solar System.
The carbon dioxide to water ratio is about 8 to 1, one of the highest ever observed in any comet.
This discovery, combined with its size, further underscores the object’s uniqueness.
The composition of ATLAS suggests various possibilities about its origin.
It could have formed in a region where carbon dioxide ice could easily freeze, resulting in its current composition.
Alternatively, its water ice may be too deep for sunlight to reach, causing mainly carbon dioxide to escape into space.
Another possibility is that its exposure to radiation in space has altered its composition compared to comets found in our Solar System.
Regardless, this presents an exciting opportunity for scientists to learn more about the universe beyond our Solar System, whether or not it turns out to be an alien mothership.