Mysterious Object from Outside the Solar System Discovered
A newly discovered comet could be the third known object from a foreign star system.
An international team of astronomers has discovered an unusual celestial object moving at high speed through the solar system. Observations suggest that it is an interstellar visitor – an object originating from outside our solar system.
The object, initially designated A11pI3Z, was first spotted on July 2, 2025, by the ATLAS telescope in Chile. It now carries the official designation C/2025 N1 (Atlas) and is estimated by NASA researchers to be about 670 million kilometers from the sun. It is moving at about 60 kilometers per second on a hyperbolic trajectory through the solar system – a typical characteristic of interstellar objects.
Rare Visitors from Other Star Systems
If its origin is confirmed, C/2025 N1 would be only the third known interstellar object after the object 1I/ʻOumuamua (2017) and the comet 2I/Borisov (2019). According to astronomer Mark Norris from the University of Central Lancashire, the discovery underscores that such "cosmic wanderers" may be more common than long assumed.
Characteristics Indicate a Comet
The comet shows, according to the Minor Planet Center, initial signs of activity, including a faint coma and a short tail – both indications of evaporating material. The size of the object is still unclear: initial estimates suggest a diameter of up to 20 kilometers. However, the solid core could be significantly smaller if a large part of the brightness is caused by ejected dust.
No Danger to Earth
A collision with Earth is ruled out. C/2025 N1 will approach the sun on October 30, 2025, to within 130 million miles – roughly the distance to Mars. After that, it will leave the solar system again.
Observation Possible in Late Autumn
The comet is not yet visible to the naked eye. However, from the end of 2025, it could be observable with amateur telescopes. For those particularly interested, the Virtual Telescope Project already offers a live broadcast.
Source: This article is partially based on information from the "Guardian", as of July 3, 2025.
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