每经记者｜王嘉琦 兰素英 每经编辑｜段炼 高涵 时速21万公里 2025年7月，一位不请自来的"访客"以时速21万公里的惊人速度，划破了太阳系的宁静。 北双子望远镜观测到的3I/ATLAS 来源：国际双子星天文台 这颗星际天体被命名为3I/ATLAS，是继2017年的"奥陌陌"（Oumuamua）和2019年的"鲍里索夫"（Borisov）之后，人类确认的第三位进入太阳系的"星际 访客"。它的到来，引发了一场关于其真实身份的激烈科学讨论。 专注于天体物理学与宇宙学研究的以色列裔美国理论物理学家、哈佛大学科学教授阿维·勒布（Avi Loeb）抛出一个石破天惊的推测：3I/ATLAS可能是伪 装成彗星的外星探测器。 他在接受《每日经济新闻》记者（以下简称"每经记者"）采访时提出了该天体的6大"异常"特征，认为这些都无法用传统彗星模型轻易解释。 对此，科学界普遍持谨慎态度。首个3I/ATLAS量化研究的首席研究员、美国国家科学基金会天文学与天体物理学博士后研究员Darryl Seligman明确指出， 主流科学界普遍将3I/ATLAS视为一颗星际彗星。 曾参与多个NASA深空探测项目的中山大学大气科学学院行星环境与 ...

Space Observation - The Vera C Rubin Observatory has detected interstellar object 3I/ATLAS [1] - The observatory is expected to detect up to 50 more interstellar objects during its 10-year mission [1]

Core Viewpoint - The discovery of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, the third known visitor to the solar system, has garnered significant attention from astronomers and enthusiasts worldwide [1][4]. Group 1: Characteristics of 3I/ATLAS - 3I/ATLAS is classified as an interstellar object due to its high eccentricity hyperbolic trajectory, with an eccentricity of 6.23, differing from the elliptical or near-parabolic orbits of typical solar system bodies [3]. - The object is believed to have a cold nucleus and exhibits cometary activity, suggesting it is more likely a comet than an asteroid [3]. - At the time of discovery, 3I/ATLAS was approximately 670 million kilometers from the Sun and had a brightness of about magnitude 18, making it difficult to observe with standard telescopes [4]. Group 2: Observational Opportunities and Future Trajectory - Ground-based telescopes are expected to observe 3I/ATLAS until September, after which it will be too close to the Sun for observation [5]. - The object is predicted to reach its perihelion around October 29, entering the orbit of Mars, and will maintain a distance of at least 240 million kilometers from Earth [4]. - Following its perihelion, 3I/ATLAS is expected to gradually move away from the solar system and return to interstellar space over the coming years [5]. Group 3: Historical Context of Interstellar Visitors - Prior to 3I/ATLAS, the first known interstellar visitor was 'Oumuamua, discovered in October 2017, which was initially thought to be an asteroid but later classified as a comet [5]. - The second interstellar visitor, 2I/Borisov, was discovered in 2019 and is also classified as a comet [5]. - The rarity of interstellar objects entering the solar system highlights the unique nature of such discoveries and the ongoing research into their origins [5].