来源：央视新闻客户端 这颗彗星的命名蕴藏着其"身份密码"。其中"ATLAS"代表它的发现者ATLAS研究团队；字母"I" 代表"星 际"，说明它是来自太阳系外的天体；数字"3"表示它是第三个被确认的来自星际空间的天体。其他两个 分别是2017年发现的"奥陌陌"和2019年发现的鲍里索夫彗星。 美国航空航天局19日公布了由其探测器和空间望远镜拍摄的"星际访客"——阿特拉斯（3I/ATLAS）一 批最新图像。美国航空航天局官员否定了关于它是一艘外星飞船的猜测。天文学家已经确定这是一颗彗 星，可能比太阳系还要古老。 作为人类观测史上第三颗被记录的"星际访客"，阿特拉斯拥有独特的高速运动和异常形态，并因此在社 交媒体上广泛引发其为"外星母舰"的猜测。 美国航空航天局副局长 阿米特·克沙特里亚：首先，我想在一开始就澄清谣言，我认为我们有必要谈谈 这个问题。这个天体是一颗彗星，它的外观和行为都像一颗彗星，所有证据都表明它就是一颗彗星。但 这颗彗星来自太阳系外，这让它变得迷人、令人兴奋。在科学领域同样也非常重要，这是人类发现的第 三个类似的星际天体。 今年7月1日，美国航空航天局资助的位于智利的"小行星撞击地球最后警报系统 ...

新华社洛杉矶11月19日电（记者谭晶晶）美国航天局19日公布了由其探测器和空间望远镜拍摄的"星际 访客"——彗星3I/ATLAS的一批最新图像。这颗彗星预计将于12月19日前后飞掠地球，届时它与地球的 最近距离约2.7亿公里，约为地日距离的两倍。 研究人员认为，3I/ATLAS起源于太阳系外的一个恒星系统，在形成后被抛入星际空间，在数百万至数 十亿年的时间里一直在漂流，最近才进入太阳系。 这颗彗星的命名蕴藏着其"身份密码"。其中"ATLAS"代表它的发现者ATLAS研究团队；字母"I"代表"星 际"，说明它是来自太阳系外的天体；数字"3"表示它是第三个被确认的来自星际空间的天体。（完） 今年7月1日，美航天局资助的位于智利的"小行星撞击地球最后警报系统"（ATLAS）巡天望远镜首次发 现该天体。这是迄今被观测到的第三个造访太阳系的星际天体。此后，美航天局已有12台探测设备拍摄 到它，包括哈勃空间望远镜、詹姆斯·韦布空间望远镜、火星探测器等。随着该天体继续穿越太阳系， 预计还会有更多航天器继续捕捉其影像。 据介绍，今年秋季，彗星3I/ATLAS从距离火星约3000万公里处飞掠。当时美航天局3个火星探测器对其 进 ...

Core Viewpoint - Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, expressed his views on the mysterious celestial body "3I/ATLAS" and the existence of extraterrestrial life during a popular podcast, emphasizing his commitment to transparency regarding any evidence of alien life [1][3] Group 1: Event Background - In July, astronomers first observed "3I/ATLAS," estimated to have a diameter between 440 meters and 5.6 kilometers, traveling at a speed exceeding 200,000 kilometers per hour, making it the third recorded interstellar visitor to the solar system [3] - The unusual trajectory and physical characteristics of "3I/ATLAS" have sparked intense discussions within the scientific community, with many mysteries still surrounding its true identity [3] Group 2: Public Reaction - Musk's statements have generated significant online discussion, with many interpreting his remarks as an indirect response to potential threats or a strong stance on information transparency [1]

Core Insights - The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS has sparked significant interest in both the scientific community and the public due to its unique characteristics and the ongoing debate about its origins [1][2][4] Group 1: Characteristics of 3I/ATLAS - 3I/ATLAS was first detected by NASA's ATLAS system, traveling at an astonishing speed of approximately 210,000 kilometers per hour, and is classified as a comet due to its faint coma and short tail [2] - The estimated diameter of 3I/ATLAS is between 10 to 20 kilometers, making it comparable in size to Manhattan, and its mass is at least 3.3 billion tons, significantly larger than previous interstellar visitors [2] - It is noted for its high activity, releasing about 180 kilograms of dust per second, which is more than double that of the previous interstellar comet 2I/Borisov [2][3] Group 2: Chemical Composition and Observations - Observations have detected glowing nickel vapor in the comet's coma, indicating complex chemical processes at play, with nickel potentially existing in molecular forms rather than through traditional high-temperature vaporization [3] - The chemical composition of 3I/ATLAS is complex, with high levels of carbon dioxide detected, alongside water ice and carbon monoxide, suggesting a variety of frozen materials are being heated [3] Group 3: Scientific Community's Response - The scientific community largely dismisses the theory proposed by Avi Loeb that 3I/ATLAS could be an alien spacecraft, emphasizing that the evidence supports it being a natural celestial body consistent with known comet characteristics [4][5] - NASA has confirmed that 3I/ATLAS poses no threat to Earth and is closely monitoring its trajectory and behavior as it approaches perihelion [5][6]

Core Viewpoint - Astronomers have observed a new interstellar object, 3I/ATLAS, which is the third such "interstellar visitor" discovered to date, traveling through the solar system at high speed [1][5]. Group 1: Discovery and Characteristics - The ATLAS telescope, funded by NASA, first reported the discovery of 3I/ATLAS on July 1, 2023, initially marking it as object A11pl3Z before officially naming it [3]. - The calculated orbital eccentricity of 3I/ATLAS is 6.2, indicating it originates from outside the solar system, with a speed exceeding 60 kilometers per second as it traverses the solar system [3]. - Current observations suggest that 3I/ATLAS exhibits characteristics typical of comets, although its exact size remains undetermined, with estimates suggesting a diameter of around 20 kilometers [3]. Group 2: Scientific Implications - A research team led by Matthew Hopkins from Oxford University posits that 3I/ATLAS may be an older celestial body than those in the solar system, potentially originating from the galactic thick disk, which contains older stars [4]. - The likelihood that 3I/ATLAS is older than the solar system is estimated at two-thirds, with the possibility that it has been drifting in interstellar space for a significant period [4]. Group 3: Future Observations - As of now, 3I/ATLAS is located approximately 465 million kilometers from Earth and 600 million kilometers from the Sun, expected to reach its closest point to the Sun at about 210 million kilometers around October 30, 2023 [5]. - The interstellar object is projected to come closest to Earth in December 2023, at a distance of approximately 270 million kilometers, posing no threat to Earth [5].

Core Viewpoint - An unidentified object, possibly an interstellar visitor, has been detected in the solar system, designated as A11pI3Z, which may be the third known interstellar object to visit the solar system [2][3]. Summary by Sections Discovery and Characteristics - The European Space Agency reported that A11pI3Z is located between the asteroid belt and Jupiter, several hundred million kilometers from Earth, and poses no collision threat to Earth [2]. - Researchers are uncertain whether A11pI3Z is a rocky asteroid or a comet composed of rock, ice, and dust, and its shape and size remain unknown [2]. - The object is estimated to be about 40 kilometers wide according to Spanish astrophysicist Josép Trigo Rodríguez, while Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb suggests it could be around 19 kilometers wide, which is considered large for interstellar objects [2]. Comparison with Other Interstellar Visitors - The first known interstellar visitor, 'Oumuamua', discovered in October 2017, is approximately 400 meters long, and if A11pI3Z is confirmed to be 19 kilometers wide, it would have a mass 10 million times greater than 'Oumuamua' [3]. - The second known interstellar visitor, 21/Borisov, discovered in 2019, is identified as a comet [3].

Core Viewpoint - An unidentified object, possibly from another star system, has been detected in the solar system, marking it as the third known "interstellar visitor" [1][2] Group 1: Object Characteristics - The object, designated A11pI3Z, is located between the asteroid belt and Jupiter, several hundred million kilometers from Earth [1] - Its exact nature remains uncertain; researchers are unable to determine if it is a rocky asteroid or a comet composed of rock, ice, and dust [2] - The estimated width of A11pI3Z is around 40 kilometers according to Spanish astrophysicist Josép Trigo Rodríguez, while Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb suggests it could be about 19 kilometers wide [2] Group 2: Comparison with Previous Interstellar Visitors - The first known interstellar visitor, 'Oumuamua', discovered in October 2017, is a cigar-shaped object approximately 400 meters long [2] - If A11pI3Z is confirmed to be 19 kilometers wide, its mass would be 10 million times that of 'Oumuamua' [2] - The second interstellar visitor, 21/Borisov, discovered in 2019, is identified as a comet [2]

Core Viewpoint - An unidentified object, potentially an interstellar visitor, has garnered attention from astronomers worldwide, being the third known object to visit the solar system from outside [1][2]. Group 1 - The object, designated A11pI3Z, is currently located between the asteroid belt and Jupiter, several hundred million kilometers from Earth, and poses no collision threat to Earth [1]. - Researchers are uncertain whether A11pI3Z is a rocky asteroid or a comet composed of rock, ice, and dust, and its shape and size remain unknown [2]. - The object's unique trajectory and high speed suggest it may originate from an external star system, with estimates of its width around 40 kilometers [2]. Group 2 - Comparatively, the first known interstellar visitor, 'Oumuamua', discovered in October 2017, is approximately 400 meters long, while A11pI3Z could be significantly larger, with a mass potentially 10 million times that of 'Oumuamua' if its width is confirmed to be 19 kilometers [2]. - The second known interstellar visitor, 21/Borisov, discovered in 2019, is identified as a comet [2].

Group 1 - The unidentified object, designated A11pI3Z, is potentially the third "interstellar visitor" known to have entered the solar system, as reported by the European Space Agency [1] - A11pI3Z is currently located between the asteroid belt and Jupiter, several hundred million kilometers from Earth, and poses no threat of collision with Earth [1] - Researchers are uncertain whether A11pI3Z is a rocky asteroid or a comet composed of rock, ice, and dust, and its shape and size remain unknown [2] Group 2 - The trajectory and high speed of A11pI3Z suggest it may originate from outside the solar system, with estimates of its width ranging from approximately 19 kilometers to 40 kilometers [2] - If A11pI3Z is confirmed to be 19 kilometers wide, its mass would be 10 million times that of the first known interstellar visitor, 'Oumuamua', which is about 400 meters long [2] - The second known interstellar visitor, 21/Borisov, discovered in 2019, is identified as a comet [2]