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Scientists Stunned to Discover Possibly the Oldest Comet Ever Witnessed
In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers have identified an extraordinary interstellar object that may be the oldest comet ever seen. According to experts speaking at the Royal Astronomical Society’s National Astronomy Meeting in Durham, U.K., this celestial body could even surpass the age of our solar system itself.
The mysterious entity, dubbed 3I/ATLAS, is roughly 12 miles (20 kilometers) in diameter and exhibits an unusual orbit that suggests it originated from outside the solar system. The findings were announced during a presentation at the meeting, where experts revealed initial observations hinting that this comet may be active.
Researchers have long speculated about the origins of celestial bodies like 3I/ATLAS, but the discovery is unprecedented in its implications. “This is an object from a part of the galaxy we’ve never seen up close before,” declared Professor Chris Lintott, co-author of the study and presenter of the BBC’s The Sky at Night.
The revelation comes as astronomers continue to monitor the comet’s trajectory, which will take it closest to the sun in October. As 3I/ATLAS approaches its perihelion point, it is expected to release vapor and gas due to sunlight heating its surface, producing a glowing coma and tail that will confirm its status as an active comet.
The team of experts, led by Matthew Hopkins from the University of Oxford, has conducted statistical calculations estimating a 68% probability that this object is approximately 7.6-14 billion years old. “All non-interstellar comets, such as Halley’s comet, formed with our solar system, so are up to 4.5 billion years old,” said Matthew Hopkins.
“But interstellar visitors have the potential to be far older, and of those known about so far, our statistical method suggests that 3I/ATLAS is very likely to be the oldest comet we’ve ever seen.”
Source: www.forbes.com
