NASA Discovers Third Interstellar Comet
Since that first report, observations from before the discovery have been gathered from the archives of three different ATLAS telescopes around the world and the Zwicky Transient Facility at the Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, California. These “pre-discovery” observations extend back to June 14. Numerous telescopes have reported additional observations since the object was first reported.
The comet poses no threat to Earth and will remain at a distance of at least 1.6 astronomical units (about 150 million miles or 240 million km). It is currently about 4.5 au (about 416 million miles or 670 million km) from the Sun. 3I/ATLAS will reach its closest approach to the Sun around Oct. 30, at a distance of 1.4 au (about 130 million miles or 210 million km) — just inside the orbit of Mars.
The interstellar comet’s size and physical properties are being investigated by astronomers around the world. 3I/ATLAS should remain visible to ground-based telescopes through September, after which it will pass too close to the Sun to observe. It is expected to reappear on the other side of the Sun by early December, allowing for renewed observations.
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1.5au ain’t that far. Any thoughts on trying to hitch a ride on this thing? An unmanned probe, obviously. Could provide some insights into interstellar travel, not to mention the interstellar environment. And how that affects an object we could get to know very well, over several years.
Yeah, I know. You have to be in the right place, at the right time, to make the right “thing” happen. But it would not cost us much, to make this happen (whenever we saw the opportunity). The payoff, could be priceless… Just a thought…
Any asteroids or probes near its path?
Lucy, Psyche?