Back in 1989, NASA’s Galileo probe zoomed past one of Jupiter’s many moons with the planet’s iconic Great Red Spot looming in the background. (Photo by NASA/Space Frontiers/Getty Images)
Recent buzz suggests that India’s AstroSat telescope might have caught sight of the interstellar newcomer known as 3I/Atlas even before NASA confirmed its existence. This caught the attention of scientists and space buffs across the globe, especially since NASA has been unusually quiet about this intriguing object in recent weeks.
What Exactly Is 3I/Atlas?
3I/Atlas isn’t your everyday comet or asteroid. This is an interstellar body, which means it made its way into our solar system from beyond—essentially traveling for millions of years in space before showing up in our cosmic backyard.
First spotted earlier this year by the ATLAS observatory based in Hawaii, this object is said to be about the size of Manhattan and moves incredibly fast.
It’s a rare find, being only the third interstellar body ever discovered, following the infamous ‘Oumuamua in 2017 and Comet Borisov in 2019. Discoveries like these allow researchers to unravel the mysteries of star and planet formation elsewhere in the universe.
India’s Early Observation
According to a report from NewsX, India’s AstroSat telescope may have caught sight of 3I/Atlas even before NASA made it public. Launching into space in 2015, AstroSat marks India’s inaugural attempt at a space telescope, observing stars, galaxies, and other cosmic phenomena across different light spectrums.
The team of scientists confirmed that the telescope detected a fast-moving object that didn’t match any known comets or asteroids. After analyzing the data, they speculated that they might be looking at an object from beyond our solar system, only to later realize it was indeed 3I/Atlas!
NASA’s Silence Creates a Stir
NASA hasn’t spoken much about whether it has picked up on 3I/Atlas, which has led to quite a bit of speculation over the internet, especially since past reports hinted at connections to NASA’s Juno spacecraft.
While this conversation goes on, Indian researchers are diving into their findings. They believe that the results from AstroSat are critical and are gearing up to share their data with the global community for additional examination.
Insights from Indian Scientists
Dr. Neeraj Sharma, one of the scientists on the team, expressed confidence that India’s telescope might have observed the object before its brightness ramped up while near the Sun.
“We’re still checking all the details and cross-referencing the data with what foreign observatories have,” he shared.
Initial findings indicate that 3I/Atlas is made of rock, ice, and metal, somewhat like comets found in our solar system. Yet, subtle differences in its composition hint that it likely hails from another star system.
Dr. Meenakshi Rao, another team scientist, added that these observations speak to how far India’s space telescope has come.
“AstroSat was built to track distant objects, and these findings validate its accuracy,” she commented.
Why This Is Important
Celestial objects like 3I/Atlas are exceedingly rare and linger in our solar system only briefly. Each instance provides scientists with a unique chance to learn more about solar system formation elsewhere.
If India’s AstroSat indeed managed to catch 3I/Atlas, it would represent a significant achievement in Indian astronomy and highlight the country’s growing contributions to global space exploration.
What’s Next?
As scientists continue to track 3I/Atlas getting closer to the Sun before heading back into deep space, researchers in India are committed to further analysis of their data and will share updates as they come.
Although NASA remains tight-lipped for now, what’s clear is that results from India demonstrate how AstroSat is making strides in expanding our understanding of the universe—one astounding discovery at a time.
