A comet from beyond our solar system is hurtling towards the sun at around 61km per second, captivating scientists. Known as 3I/Atlas, it is only the third interstellar object ever observed, following 'Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019.
First detected in July, the comet has sparked excitement since the Hubble Space Telescope captured an image, offering a rare chance to study its size and chemical makeup. Dr Rebecca Allen, co-director of Swinburne's Space Technology and Industry Institute, said: 'We've never had an object like this to study before.'
The comet's trajectory is bringing it closer to Earth, though it poses no threat. Stargazers may be able to spot it with telescopes as it passes through the inner solar system. Scientists are particularly intrigued by a mysterious signal emanating from the object, which they are analysing to determine its composition and origin.
3I/Atlas provides a unique opportunity to learn about the building blocks of other star systems. Its approach is expected to yield valuable data before it continues its journey out of our solar system.
