A model of the 3I/ATLAS comet, the third known object to visit us from outside our solar system.
ATLAS/University of Hawaii/NASA
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ATLAS/University of Hawaii/NASA
Taking Comet 3I/ATLAS tall Holiday trip this year. It is traveling from another solar system entirely.
It is the third interstellar object to pass through our solar system. Astronomer John Tonry says that, like the first interstellar comet in 2017, 3I/ATLAS has made people wonder whether it came from alien technology.
Tonari was part of the team that created the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Final Warning System. And while he’s willing to bet his house on it, this comet isn’t an early holiday gift from aliens, he says. does Provide astronomers with a rare opportunity to study planets around stars beyond our Sun.
“It’s the only way we can get material from another solar system, I mean, certainly within our lifetime.”
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This episode was produced by Rachel Carlson. It was edited by Rebecca Ramirez. Tyler Jones checked the facts. The audio engineer was Kwesi Lee.
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