Hubble Space Telescope Captures Second Image of Comet 3I/ATLAS
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured another stunning image of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it races through our solar system at an incredible speed of 130,000 miles per hour.
According to NASA, Hubble took the latest photograph of 3I/ATLAS on November 30 using its Wide Field Camera 3 instrument. At that time, the comet was approximately 178 million miles away from Earth. While 3I/ATLAS is clearly visible at the center of the image, the distant stars behind it appear blurred due to the comet's impressive velocity.
Astronomers first detected 3I/ATLAS in July, prompting NASA to direct Hubble towards the comet for an initial observation. Since then, researchers have been closely studying this cosmic traveler. Estimates suggest the comet is between 0.2 and 3.5 miles wide, and it may be covered in icy cryovolcanoes.
We're a new kind of news feed.
Regular news is designed to drain you. We're a non-profit built to restore you. Every story we publish is scored for impact, progress, and hope.
Start Your News DetoxThe Comet's Remarkable Speed and Age
3I/ATLAS' remarkable speed is a testament to its age. To reach such high velocities, the comet would have required multiple gravitational slingshots as it passed stars, planets, and other galactic objects over billions of years. This suggests 3I/ATLAS likely formed in a distant corner of the galaxy after breaking off from a proto-planet.
The comet will soon pass by the Sun and continue its journey out of our solar system. Although its orbital path will eventually bring it back towards Earth, this won't happen for thousands of years. As a result, each new observation of 3I/ATLAS is a rare and valuable opportunity to study this once-in-a-lifetime celestial event.
