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Space@beehaw.orgEnglish · 3 months ago

ESA tracks rare interstellar comet

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ESA tracks rare interstellar comet

BevelGear@beehaw.org to

Space@beehaw.orgEnglish · 3 months ago

2

Editor's note: This is the original ESA news article published shortly after the discovery of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS in July 2025. For the latest updates and ESA observations of the comet, click here. Astronomers have confirmed the discovery of a rare celestial visitor: a comet from beyond our Solar System.Officially named 3I/ATLAS, this newly identified interstellar object is only the third of its kind ever observed, following the famous 1I/ʻOumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019.

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Hirom@beehaw.org
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3 months ago
Those objects are flying by very fast. I wonder if we could have a probe slingshot, using the comet as gravity assist. But they’re probably not massive enough.
- BevelGear@beehaw.orgOP
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  3 months ago
  We’ll see what happens in due time. Their interceptor won’t launch until 2029.
  
  https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Comet_Interceptor

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