And let's get into it with one of our favorite interstellar experts, Harvard professor Avi Lobe. Professor, welcome back. Starting with these new images from AESA's ExoMars orbiter.What stands out to you. Any surprises here. Well, uh, the fact is that we see an image very similar to the Hubble Space Telescope image that was obtained on July 21st. Qualitatively speaking, of course, the Hubble Space Telescope is a much bigger has a much bigger mirror, 2.4% m in diameter, whereas this camera that was used on E ...

Interstellar Object Threeey Atlas Analysis - Observation of Threeey Atlas, the third interstellar object, is underway, with real-time streaming of telescope images [1] - The object is considered a building block from another star system, sparking scientific interest [1][2] - The object's tail development is under close observation, though its nature remains uncertain [2] Trajectory and Observation - Threeey Atlas will pass by Mars around October 3rd, offering NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter a prime viewing opportunity [3] - The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's camera could potentially resolve the object with a pixel size of 30 kilometers, providing crucial data [8] - Earth-based observation windows are closing due to the sun's glare, making the Mars flyby critical [2][9] Object Characteristics and Composition - Initial estimates suggested a size of 20 to 40 kilometers in diameter, comparable to a city like San Francisco [4] - The object's nature is debated: it could be a solid object or a dense cloud of dust [5] - Unusual behavior, such as a glow ahead of the object and a teardrop-shaped plume, is being investigated [10] - The object's plume is primarily carbon dioxide (95% by mass) with only 5% water vapor, based on web telescope data [12] - Recent data indicates the presence of nickel without iron, a combination typically associated with industrial production [12] Scientific Debate and Classification - The object's classification is uncertain, with possibilities ranging from a natural object to a technological one [14] - One astronomer uses a "Lobe scale" to rank the object, currently placing it at four out of ten, leaning towards natural but with open questions [14]