Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS turns into a huge 'cosmic rainbow' in mesmerizing telescope image

The newly discovered interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS was captured in a timelapse image shining like a rainbow-colored string of cosmic pearls by a telescope in Hawaii. It was confirmed as an interstellar object by NASA within 24 hours of its discovery on July 1. The object, likely a large comet up to 15 miles across, could be over 3 billion years older than our solar system. It is racing toward the sun at over 130,000 mph and will reach its closest point in late October before heading back out of the solar system, giving scientists a limited time to study it.

Astronomers at the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii have been monitoring 3I/ATLAS closely since its discovery. They released stunning images, including a close-up of the comet's coma and a colorful timelapse photo showing the comet moving through space. The colors in the image result from different filters used to capture the comet's coma, while the comet itself emits white light.

3I/ATLAS is only the third confirmed interstellar object, larger and faster than its predecessors. It originates from a different part of the Milky Way, making it an intriguing subject for further study. Discovered by the NASA-funded ATLAS on July 1, astronomers hope to uncover more about its origins as it approaches Earth in mid-December, posing no threat to our planet.

According to the source: Live Science.