LONDON (IT BOLTWISE) – The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS will reach its closest point to Earth on December 19th. This rare opportunity offers scientists the chance to take a closer look at one of the few known interstellar visitors to our solar system.
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The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, discovered July 1 by the NASA-funded ATLAS telescopes in Chile, will reach its closest point to Earth on December 19. This marks a significant moment in the study of interstellar objects, as 3I/ATLAS is only the third confirmed object of its kind to transit our solar system. Previously, 1I/ʻOumuamua was observed in 2017 and comet 2I/Borisov in 2019.
The comet will pass at a safe distance of about 1.8 astronomical units from Earth, which is approximately 168 million miles (270 million kilometers). This distance is almost twice the average distance between the Earth and the Sun. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), 3I/ATLAS poses no threat to Earth or other planets as it passes through the inner solar system.
Although the comet keeps a safe distance from Earth, the flyby is of great importance for research. Astronomers have the opportunity to observe the dust and gas emissions from the comet’s nucleus, which are released by the heating of the Sun. These observations provide rare insights into the formation of comets and planetary material around other stars.
In recent months, several space agencies and observatories have turned their attention to this interstellar visitor. New images from the Hubble Space Telescope and the JUICE Jupiter probe were recently released showing the fleeting traveler through the inner solar system. Those interested can also watch the 3I/ATLAS flyby online in a free Virtual Telescope Project livestream beginning at 11 p.m. EST on December 18 (0400 GMT on December 19), weather permitting.
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