美航天局:“星际访客”飞掠近日点
Xin Hua She·2025-10-31 11:55

Core Points - The article discusses the recent flyby of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, which poses no threat to Earth as it moves away from the solar system [1][2] - 3I/ATLAS is the third known interstellar object to visit the solar system, following 'Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019 [2] Summary by Sections - Discovery and Characteristics - 3I/ATLAS was first reported by the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile on July 1, 2023, and is classified as a comet due to its icy nucleus and coma [1] - The comet's nucleus is estimated to be between 440 meters and 5.6 kilometers in diameter, although its exact size remains uncertain [1] - Orbital Details - The comet's perihelion was approximately 1.4 astronomical units (about 210 million kilometers) from the Sun, located inside the orbit of Mars [1] - The closest approach to Earth was about 1.8 astronomical units (approximately 270 million kilometers) [1] - Significance of the Name - The name 3I/ATLAS indicates its discoverer (ATLAS team), its interstellar origin (I), and its status as the third confirmed interstellar object [2] - Scientific Importance - The ongoing discovery of interstellar objects like 3I/ATLAS aids in understanding the composition of materials outside the solar system, early planetary formation processes, and cosmic physics [2]