Interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS reveals surprising nickel as it nears the sun — what secrets will it unlock?
What secrets does Comet 3I/ATLAS hold?
This interstellar visitor is about to become very active. Scientists have detected surprising amounts of nickel. This finding is unusual for comets.
The Manhattan-sized comet is nearing its closest point to the sun. This event is called perihelion. It is expected to be very active during this time. Its nucleus is about 10 kilometers wide.
A potential guardian of Earth?
Surprisingly, this comet could help protect Earth. It might offer insights into protecting our planet from future asteroid threats. Understanding its composition is key.
This isn't the first time an interstellar object has visited our solar system. Back in 2017, 'Oumuamua made headlines. Like 3I/ATLAS, 'Oumuamua was a visitor from another star system. However, scientists did not detect nickel in 'Oumuamua.
Further observations are planned. What else will Comet 3I/ATLAS reveal about its journey?
