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Mysterious Object 3I/ATLAS: UN Defenses Aimed at Cosmic Visitor
27 Nov
Summary
- UN's planetary defenses will target interstellar object 3I/ATLAS.
- Amateur telescopes reveal clearer images than NASA's recent photos.
- Object 3I/ATLAS will reach closest point to Earth on December 19.
Earth's planetary defense systems are being readied to track the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, with a two-month observation campaign beginning November 27. While not projected to pose a threat, the United Nations is utilizing this approach as a large-scale drill for potential future asteroid impacts.
This scientific initiative follows the release of remarkable amateur telescope images. These photos, captured by skywatchers globally, offer a clearer view of 3I/ATLAS's coma and tail than recent NASA imagery. Some images even suggest a cone-like shape, fueling speculation about its origin.
Despite NASA maintaining that 3I/ATLAS is a comet, its unusual characteristics, including a tail pointing towards the sun and unexpected course changes, have led some, like Harvard professor Avi Loeb, to theorize about extraterrestrial origins. The UN's International Asteroid Warning Network will monitor the object until January.
