Radio signal detected from 3I/Atlas confirms comet

South African Observatory detects natural signal from 3I/Atlas, strengthening hypothesis that it is a comet instead of an alien UFO.

An observatory in South Africa has announced that it has detected the first radio signal from 3I/Atlas, an interstellar object that has been the subject of much debate for some time. The new discovery adds to the growing body of evidence that 3I/Atlas is actually a comet, not an alien UFO as many have speculated. Photo: SARAO/MeerKAT.

According to the research team, the MeerKAT observatory, a 64-antenna array with a diameter of 13.5 m operated by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory, recorded “OH absorptions at the 1,665 MHz and 1,667 MHz lines.” This is a frequency pattern characteristic of hydroxyl (OH) radicals, which often appear around comets as they approach the Sun. Image: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/Shadow the ScientistImage Processing: J. Miller & M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab), T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab).

Unlike intentional signals like spacecraft communications signals, the OH lines captured by the MeerKAT observatory are a natural phenomenon. As they approach the Sun, ice on comets release water vapor and molecules that form OH. Photo: NASA/JPL.

Under the influence of radiation, these molecules absorb and emit radiation at certain radio frequencies, creating spectral lines that telescopes can detect. Photo: NASA.

In the case of the interstellar object 3I/Atlas, the observational geometry causes the OH line to appear as absorption rather than emission. Image: International Gemini Observatory et al.; full credit below.

The MeerKAT observatory detected the signal on October 24, just five days before 3I/Atlas reached perihelion. The observatory had previously attempted to observe the object on September 20 and 28 but had failed to get results. Image: NASA, ESA, David Jewitt/UCLA; Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale/STScI.

Astrophysicist Avi Loeb, who closely monitors 3I/Atlas, said he had called on radio observatories to look for signals from the object because its approach was near the location where the "Wow!" signal appeared in 1977. Photo: businesstoday.

According to astrophysicist Avi, scientists are continuing to monitor to determine the OH creation process as well as observe the range and structure of the comet's tail to make a more confident assessment. Photo: NASA.

While he supports the hypothesis that 3I/Atlas could have a technological origin, Avi said the new discovery does not diminish his interest in the mysterious object. Photo: 3i/atlas.is.coming Instagram Account Photo © IBTimes.

Scientists calculate that 3I/Atlas will reach its closest point to Earth on December 19. During that time, observatories plan to continue to closely monitor it to add data on this rare and mysterious interstellar object. Photo: Dexerto.

Readers are invited to watch the video : Universe map with more than 900,000 stars, galaxies and black holes. Source: THĐT1.

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