ATLAS is a mysterious object that has entered our solar system

 ATLAS is a mysterious object that has entered our solar system

Syndicated investigative reporter 

And science interpreter

Michael Mick Webster

ATLAS is a newly detected object that has entered our solar system from outer space. It exhibits unusual behavior by traveling in a straight line and shows no signs of exhaust or breaking the sound barrier.

With 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1, A11pl3Z), astronomers gain a profound opportunity—the third known traveler from beyond our solar shores. Moving at lightning speeds and showcasing cometary behavior, it will fortify our understanding of distant planetary systems and prepare us for the next interstellar guest. Keep your telescopes ready: this cosmic visitor will continue its journey, sparking inquiry and wonder long after its fleeting encounter.

Let me know if you'd like updates on its brightness, suggested viewing coordinates, or deeper technical analysis!

On July 1, 2025, the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile made history by discovering C/2025 N1 (ATLAS)—also known now as 3I/ATLAS or initially “A11pl3Z”. The International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center has officially classified it as the third confirmed interstellar object (“3I”) to visit our solar system, following ‘Oumuamua (2017)and 2I/Borisov (2019)sci.news+10science.nasa.gov+10space.com+10.

🧭 Origins & Orbit

• Interstellar trajectory: Its path around the Sun is hyperbolic (eccentricity ~6), proving it's not gravitationally bound to the Sun and is merely passing through .
• Incoming direction: Bearing comes from the constellation Sagittarius, which arcs toward the Milky Way's galactic center science.nasa.gov+1business-standard.com+1.
• Precovery finds: Archived imagery stretches back to June 14, 2025, from multiple telescopes including ATLAS, Palomar’s Zwicky Transient Facility, and Canada‑France‑Hawaii dw.com+10astrobiology.com+10sci.news+10.

🚀 Speed & Size

• Velocity: 3I/ATLAS races in at roughly 60 km/s (≈137,000 mph)—faster than its two interstellar predecessorssci.news+10astrobiology.com+10skyatnightmagazine.com+10.
• Volume: Initial estimates suggest a diameter between 10–20 km, with some models proposing up to 24 km; absolute brightness (H ≈ 12) hints at ~10 km assuming typical cometary reflectivenesssciencealert.com+2astrobiology.com+2archyde.com+2.

✨ Cometary Traits

• Confirmed activity: Observations detect a faint coma and a short tail (~3 arcseconds); positive signs of sublimation as it warms thesolarsystem.fandom.com+11space.com+11space.com+11.
• Spectral signature: Visible-to-infared slope appears reddened, reminiscent of ‘Oumuamua, per initial photometric and spectroscopic data reddit.com+7astrobiology.com+7reddit.com+7.

📍 Trajectory & Proximity Timeline

Event	Distance from Sun	Distance from Earth
Discovery (July 1, 2025)	~4.5 AU (670 M km)	~4.0 AU (600 M km)abc.net.au+10science.nasa.gov+10science.nasa.gov+10
Closest to Sun (Perihelion)	~1.35–1.40 AU (~205–210 M km), late Oct 2025	—
Mars flyby	~0.19 AU (~28 M km), early Oct 2025	—
Closest to Earth	~1.6–1.8 AU (≈240–270 M km), mid-Dec 2025