Overview
- Discovered on July 1 by the ATLAS survey, 3I/ATLAS is the third confirmed interstellar object to pass through the Solar System.
- Follow-up imaging and spectroscopy show a small tail and gas–dust envelope with detected CO2, while Hubble data suggest a nucleus about 20 km across and a speed near 210,000 km/h.
- Hot solar plasma likely boosted outgassing and produced nongravitational reactive thrust, leading to measurable changes in the object’s trajectory.
- U.S. and Belgian teams report a thick carbon-rich surface layer roughly 15–20 meters deep, reshaping views of interstellar object surfaces.
- Scientists dispute claims of artificial origin, continue monitoring for any unexplained acceleration, and note the closest approach is about 268 million km from Earth.