Runaway Comet 3I/ATLAS: A Final Encounter?

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Space experts are considering the dispatch of a spacecraft to “capture” 3I/ATLAS or the subsequent interstellar entity. Such an endeavor could enable scientists to find out more about remote star systems within the confines of the Milky Way.(Image credit: Nicholas Forder/Future)ShareShare by:

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We’ve kept watch as it traversed the solar system by means of the most advanced telescopes ever conceived. We’ve scrutinized its radiance employing probes orbiting the sun and automated vehicles stranded on the Martian terrain. Uncountable observers witnessed its closest proximity to our planet on December 19 — however, in spite of all this observation, the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS stays fundamentally an indistinct celestial phenomenon, swathed in enigma.

Ever since its identification in the early days of July, 3I/ATLAS has undergone study with greater enthusiasm than nearly every other heavenly body in current times. Even still, for all its renowned status, plenty about it is yet to be ascertained. The comet’s point of origin, originating from a zone situated considerably beyond our galaxy, might perpetually remain unknown. Its precise age, magnitude, makeup, and configuration are correspondingly vaguely defined.

But what method can we employ to acquire deeper insights into this extraterrestrial rover — or, in reality, the succeeding one — if we are presently scrutinizing it with all resources at our disposal?

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Certain specialists are suggesting a courageous proposition: We are compelled to “capture” it with a space vehicle.

Undertaking this would not simply assist in enhancing our comprehension of its essential attributes but additionally capture visuals of its plane and conceivably gather our maiden interstellar specimens, which possess the capacity to unveil insights into the means by which extraterrestrial exoplanets materialize, the extent to which our variety of solar structure prevails, and potentially resolve the inquiry of whether or not we are solitary entities existing within the realm.

“We are presented with only one opportunity to examine this object, after which it shall be irrevocably gone,” as communicated to Live Science in preceding times by Darryl Seligman, an astronomer stationed at Michigan State University and the principal writer of the preliminary manuscript issued concerning 3I/ATLAS. “Consequently, we aspire to gather as much information as feasible from each of our observatories.”

Alien interlopers

On the date of July 1, astronomers operating the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) divulged that they had recognized an enigmatic entity advancing toward our vicinity from a point beyond Jupiter, traveling at velocities surpassing 130,000 mph (210,000 km/h). ATLAS, an automated network that scans the celestial sphere by utilizing telescopes established in Hawaii, Chile, and South Africa, had been involved in a search for possible hazards directed towards Earth. However, it stumbled upon a remarkably distinct discovery.

The initial announcement by ATLAS astronomers pertaining to their detection of a probable interstellar object was made on July 1, when they disclosed this image of an entity proceeding towards the sun from a location beyond Jupiter.

In a time frame fewer than twenty-four hours hence, NASA provided endorsement affirming that the precipitous blur of illumination was indeed an interstellar body — an alien asteroid or comet deriving from outside the confines of our solar system — assigning it the designation of 3I/ATLAS. This marked solely the third instance ever documented of an interstellar entity identified within our solar dominion, succeeding the unforeseen space rock ‘Oumuamua in 2017, coupled with Comet 2I/Borisov in 2019.

Irrespective of the expeditious dispersal of unverified allegations asserting the entity’s potential classification as an extraterrestrial probe, early observations ascertained that 3I/ATLAS exists as a comet — plausibly the most ancient manifestation of its kind ever beheld — conceivably originating from the Milky Way’s outlying “boundary” zone.

Cosmic wanderers such as this one invigorate space experts in view of their presentation of one of the limited chances available for us to scrutinize neighboring star frameworks, an endeavor that would necessitate eras and the fabrication of science-fiction innovations for remote exploration by way of a space vehicle.

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“ISOs constitute relics resulting from planetary origination, so scrutinizing these substances and likening them to our nearer objects [has the potential to] usher in an absorbing viewpoint of how other planetary arrangements developed within our galaxy,” Pedro Bernardinelli, a planetary specialist affiliated with the University of Washington’s DiRAC Institute, elucidated via electronic mail to Live Science.

Science Spotlight provides a greater comprehension of novel fields in science, providing our readership with fundamental viewpoints pertaining to such advancements. Our narratives underline inclinations across diverse subjects, elaborating upon how recent examinations are reshaping former presumptions, as well as the manner through which our discernment of the encompassing realm evolves as a result of scientific pursuits.

Yet, our terrestrial observatories and even orbiting space vehicles like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) can only deliver approximate details like broad dimensions, form, and composition. To genuinely reveal the hidden aspects of ISOs, we’ll require considerably closer proximity — perhaps even proximity adequate for acquiring a fragment.

Although carrying out this undertaking shall not be uncomplicated, due to the invaluable revelations it may convey concerning star arrangements extraneous to our own, it would warrant such an endeavor, according to specialists.

“Each one of these ISOs constitutes a segment of readily obtainable insights from a foundational framework that is able to deliver extensive knowledge regarding the proliferation of foundational objects in other vicinities,” as stated previously to Live Science by Wesley Fraser, an astronomer associated with the National Research Council Canada.

Initiating the pursuit

Nonetheless, the juncture to seize this accelerated comet converges swiftly. At this moment, 3I/ATLAS is attaining its nearest position relative to Earth, situated approximately 168 million miles (270 million km) distant. Commencing from this locale, it shall promptly withdraw further from our location, plausibly extending beyond Neptune within an ensuing duration of one annum.

Since the contemporary timing precludes the interception of 3I/ATLAS within the solar system’s inner sectors, a prevailing accord among the majority of researchers acknowledges the sole viable avenue for examining this entity entails pursuing it as it exits our solar arrangement.

Such a strategy would impose a stipulation for the spacecraft to execute operations designated as “Oberth maneuvers,” encompassing an intricate employment of gravitational forces encircling sizable entities, typified by the sun, in order to gather the momentum prerequisite for capturing and intercepting an ISO at a determined juncture corresponding to its anticipated path.

The aforementioned notion initially surfaced in 2022, with the intention of encompassing and studying the paramount interstellar entity discerned previously, recognized as ‘Oumuamua. The blueprint, designated Project Lyra, sought the dispatch of a probe in 2028, purposed with intercepting and scrutinizing the entity, following the consummation of an Oberth maneuver in close proximity to Jupiter.

Throughout its unique venture across the solar dominion, 3I/ATLAS manifested several peculiar characteristics, encompassing the expansion of an perplexing “anti-tail” jet just antecedently it neared its most intimate situation corresponding to the sun.

Yet, the aforementioned method of pursuit presents a significant restriction: Scientists would need to persevere over decades for the reversion of data. To exemplify, should Project Lyra inaugurate the launch of a space vehicle in 2030, the interception of ‘Oumuamua would not transpire until 2052 at the foremost, as disclosed to Live Science by Adam Hibberd, a specialist with the U.K.-situated nonprofit Initiative for Interstellar Studies (I4IS), responsible for contributing to Project Lyra.

Until the present juncture, Project Lyra has not proceeded past the exploratory phases — rendering a 2028 launch significantly improbable — however, the project preserves the capacity of accessing ‘Oumuamua, on the provision of its commencement in 2030 or 2033, according to Hibberd’s statement. This implicates the existence of an adequate time frame remaining for us to pursue 3I/ATLAS, subject to our aspiration.

As an addendum, novel methods of impetus, typified by solar sails, sustain the capacity of curtailing the operational duration of missions of this variant from decades to a span encompassing solely several years. Notwithstanding, these technological solutions are positioned decades removed from realization themselves.

Involving “hide-and-seek”

Recognizing the considerable degree of challenge associated with the pursuit of 3I/ATLAS, certain astronomers postulate that we abstain from its hunt. In its stead, we should configure for the interception of the ensuing ISO of curiosity.

With the inauguration of a intercepting space vehicle and its subsequent parking in a gravitationally fixed location encircling Earth, acknowledged as a Lagrange point, we could hypothetically be prepared to intercept swiftly a passing entity, as proposed.

The aforementioned notion, similarly initially advanced in 2022, has been designated as the “hide-and-seek” approach. Irrespective of its affinity to Project Lyra, it registers as being substantially nearer its culmination.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is presently preparing the Comet Interceptor mission, anticipated to inaugurate launch procedures in 2029, integrated on the same rocket system as ESA’s Ariel space telescope, as confirmed by Colin Snodgrass, an astronomer at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland specializing in comets and fulfilling the capacity of deputy project investigator on the proposal encompassing this mission.

Since its discovery, NASA has maintained close surveillance of 3I/ATLAS. During a press briefing in November, the agency disseminated these six depictions of the comet captured by assorted space vehicles dispersed throughout the solar dominion.

The Comet Interceptor probe, contrary to being singularly geared toward interstellar wanderers, finds its intended application within the hunt for nonperiodic comets, typified by