第三位“星际访客”正加速靠近太阳

Core Points - The interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS is approaching the Sun and is expected to pass its perihelion around October 29, 2023, before moving away from the solar system [1][2] - 3I/ATLAS was discovered in early July when it was approximately 670 million kilometers from the Sun, traveling at a speed of about 61.3 kilometers per second [1] - As it approaches the Sun, its speed has increased to approximately 63.1 kilometers per second, and it will reach a distance of about 200 million kilometers from the Sun at perihelion, with a speed of around 68 kilometers per second [1][2] Observational Data - The brightness of 3I/ATLAS has increased from about magnitude 18 at discovery to approximately magnitude 16.3 currently, with expectations to reach about magnitude 14.3 at perihelion [2] - The object is classified as a comet due to its active nature, with a cold nucleus and coma, and is estimated to have a nucleus diameter of no more than 5.6 kilometers [2] Scientific Significance - Despite having no significant physical impact on the solar system, 3I/ATLAS presents a unique opportunity for scientific research regarding the composition of exoplanets, planetary formation processes, and ancient materials from the galaxy [3]