NASA’s SPHEREx telescope has made an exciting discovery as it observed the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS unexpectedly brightening as it leaves our solar system. This rare event has provided scientists with a unique opportunity to study the chemical composition of a comet that originated from another star.
Comets are known to be made up of ice, dust, and rocky material, and they often release gas and dust as they approach the sun. However, the recent observations of comet 3I/ATLAS have shed new light on the composition of these celestial objects. The comet was first discovered in 2019 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in Hawaii. It was initially thought to be a normal comet, but as it made its closest approach to the sun in May 2020, it surprised scientists by releasing water vapor, carbon dioxide, and organic compounds.
This unexpected behavior caught the attention of NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer) telescope, which was designed to study the early universe and the formation of galaxies. The telescope has now turned its attention towards comet 3I/ATLAS, providing scientists with a rare opportunity to study the chemical makeup of a comet that originated from another star.
The findings from SPHEREx have revealed that the comet’s water vapor and carbon dioxide are similar to those found in comets from our own solar system. However, the organic compounds detected by the telescope are different from those found in comets within our solar system. This suggests that the material that formed around the other star, where comet 3I/ATLAS originated, may have had a different chemical composition than the material that formed in our own solar system.
Dr. Yancy Shirley, an astronomer at the University of Arizona and the lead author of the study, explains that this discovery provides a rare opportunity to compare the ingredients of planets and comets across the galaxy. He says, “By studying the chemical composition of this interstellar comet, we can gain a better understanding of the building blocks of planets and potentially even the origins of life in other star systems.”
The unexpected brightening of comet 3I/ATLAS also provides a unique opportunity to study the changes that occur in comets as they travel through space. The comet’s brightness increased by a factor of 4,000 as it approached the sun, and then it unexpectedly brightened again as it moved away from the sun. This suggests that the comet’s activity is not solely dependent on its distance from the sun, and other factors may also play a role.
Comets are known to be remnants from the early stages of our solar system’s formation, and studying them can provide valuable insights into the conditions that existed during that time. However, studying an interstellar comet like 3I/ATLAS can give us a glimpse into the conditions that existed in other star systems and how they may differ from our own.
The SPHEREx telescope is expected to launch in 2024, and scientists are excited about the potential discoveries it may make. Dr. Shirley says, “We are eagerly waiting for the launch of the SPHEREx telescope, which will allow us to study the chemical composition of thousands of comets in our galaxy and beyond.”
The unexpected behavior of comet 3I/ATLAS has provided scientists with a unique opportunity to study the chemical composition of a comet that originated from another star. The findings from this study will not only help us understand the formation of comets and planets in other star systems but also shed light on the conditions that existed during the early stages of our own solar system. This discovery is a testament to the power of scientific exploration and the exciting discoveries that await us in the vastness of our universe.
