Astronomers following the path of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS have uncovered evidence that it may be far more massive than first believed. Careful tracking of its orbit revealed no signs of the subtle accelerations usually caused by jets of gas escaping from a comet's surface. That absence of a "push" suggests an extraordinary bulk — an object weighing billions of tons, gliding through space with an almost immovable steadiness.
The new calculations hint that 3I/ATLAS could stretch several kilometers across, making it a true giant among visitors from beyond the solar system. For scientists, this changes the conversation: rather than a fragile snowball, 3I/ATLAS appears to be a durable interstellar traveler, carrying the secrets of distant star systems within its core. Its sheer size means it may contain exotic materials that resisted destruction during its long voyage through the galaxy.
What makes 3I/ATLAS even more intriguing is its refusal to behave like other comets. Most newcomers leave a trail of activity, brightened by the volatile gases boiling off their surfaces. 3I/ATLAS, by contrast, drifts in silence, holding its shape, showing only the faintest signs of a coma. This uncanny stillness has sparked fresh debate — is it simply a frozen relic, or could it represent a type of interstellar object unlike any humanity has seen before?
.jpg)
%20(2).jpg)
0 Comments