Key Takeaways
1. The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS was discovered on July 1 by the ATLAS telescope in Chile and lacks comet-like features or gases.
2. 3I/ATLAS has a retrograde orbit around the Sun and is estimated to be over 20 km wide.
3. Harvard physicist Avi Loeb suggests that the object may be extraterrestrial, pointing to its unusual trajectory and low probability of entering the inner solar system by chance.
4. The object’s closest approach to the Sun is expected on October 29, which Loeb believes could be a strategy to evade detection.
5. Not all scientists agree with Loeb’s hypothesis; some, like Richard Moissl from the European Space Agency, argue that 3I/ATLAS fits the characteristics of a natural body.
Since early July, a fresh interstellar object has shown up in our solar system. While most scientists think it comes from far away, a physicist from Harvard has a completely different idea.
Discovery and Characteristics
On July 1, the ATLAS telescope in Chile found 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar object that challenges what we know about science. It lacks any known comet-like features, and no gases have been found since the start of spectroscopic analyses.
Intriguing Trajectory
The path of this object is also fascinating to researchers. It moves in a retrograde orbit around the Sun. Moreover, its size is impressive, with estimates suggesting it is over 20 km wide.
An Unusual Hypothesis
Considering these oddities, Avi Loeb, a professor of theoretical physics at Harvard, confidently presents a surprising hypothesis. He argues that 3I/ATLAS has traits that could lead one to think it’s an extraterrestrial object instead of something natural.
To back up his claim, he points to the star’s trajectory. If it approaches Venus, Mars, and Jupiter next autumn, which seems likely, this could indicate a purposeful entry into our inner solar system, with a mere 0.005% probability of happening by chance. Another point he makes is that this interstellar object will be closest to the Sun on October 29, which Loeb believes might align with a strategy to hide it from our instruments.
Diverging Opinions
Despite the buzz surrounding these claims, not all experts share this view. Richard Moissl, who leads planetary defense at the European Space Agency, argues that the object’s traits fit what we would expect from a natural body.
This discussion brings to mind the debates surrounding 1I/ʻOumuamua in 2017 when that remarkable object was discovered. It’s interesting to note that Loeb also made comments on this matter, which sometimes caused controversy.
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