As detection methods become more refined interesting things are being found.
One is the 3I/Atlas seemingly an objct that eneterd our solar system from interstellar space and will leve the solar system again in some month.
A popular article without paywall is found here:
https://phys.org/news/2025-07-astronomers-track-solar.html
@Ponderable saidSaw that, I wonder if it will get close enough to determine size, density and mass? maybe so spectro analysis as to compositions?
As detection methods become more refined interesting things are being found.
One is the 3I/Atlas seemingly an objct that eneterd our solar system from interstellar space and will leve the solar system again in some month.
A popular article without paywall is found here:
https://phys.org/news/2025-07-astronomers-track-solar.html
@sonhouse saidAll of this will be determined. Question is the accuracy. It seems it has a halo, so at least part of it is probably water, that is already boiling off.
Saw that, I wonder if it will get close enough to determine size, density and mass? maybe so spectro analysis as to compositions?
@Ponderable saidDidn't hear that one. Almost a comet then. Any word on how far that halo extends out the ass end as it flies by? significant tail like a comet or is it just like the new found halo around Pluto thanks to James Web scope.,
All of this will be determined. Question is the accuracy. It seems it has a halo, so at least part of it is probably water, that is already boiling off.
I wonder how significant would an impact by an object like that would be considering the massive amount of kinetic energy inherent in just the velocity, mass aside? Have they figured the size yet or will that have to wait for better scopes eyeing it? Wouldn't if be funny if it was found to be a giant ball of ice.
I just read this article on Phys,org, about a small meteoroid found in Morocco years ago and bought by a treasure hunter and gave to be analyzed and they found some interesting facts about the development of our early solar system, changing what we had previously thought.
https://phys.org/news/2025-07-meteorite-timeline-early-solar.html
@Ponderable saidDid they confirm that tail is actually water vapor?
It is a comet, tail is about 25000 km long:
(german) source: https://www.heise.de/news/3I-ATLAS-Ein-interstellarer-Komet-mit-einem-25-000-km-langen-Schweif-10476054.html
The post that was quoted here has been removedI guess so but what makes this different is it wasn't from our solar system so that means there was a solar system it got kicked out of, maybe an encounter with a Jupiter or some such slinging it past escape velocity of whatever the hell solar system it was and it wasn't something in Human history, that sucker took millions of years to get here.
@Ponderable said"May be observable shortly" So they have yet to prove there is H2O spitting out the ass end. I would think the James Webb would be trained on it, with those IR bands it could analyze it better than any other probe unless we shot an interceptor but it is probably moving way to fast for any such intercept.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.05318
@sonhouse saidin fact I think they will only spend expensive time of the instrument after carefully analysing what they want to explore 😉
"May be observable shortly" So they have yet to prove there is H2O spitting out the ass end. I would think the James Webb would be trained on it, with those IR bands it could analyze it better than any other probe unless we shot an interceptor but it is probably moving way to fast for any such intercept.
@Ponderable saidUsing the James Webb I presume.
in fact I think they will only spend expensive time of the instrument after carefully analysing what they want to explore 😉
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Comet 3I/Atlas could be hostile aliens....says Harvard's Avi Loeb / the comet is definitely being piloted !! We have only 1 year before it arrives on Earth. They predict Around August 2026...even traveling at 130,000 mph. there is NO object in our solar system capable of going that fast...which proves it has some sort of propulsion.. I have almost completed a very deep bomb shelter !!
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Harvard Prof. Dr. Avi Loeb has confirmed the 3I/Atlas object has only 2 % chance of being a natural object....like a comet. Loeb has contacted NASA advising they send a message of peace !! Many astronomers have looked thru their telescopes and confirmed it is being piloted ! Loeb advises all world leaders to plan some sort of actions against this alien craft !!