An astronomical milestone with a local flavor and scientific rigor. The Z39 Observatory in Lanzarote, accredited by NASA's Minor Planet Center, has managed to capture images and videos of the interstellar comet 3I/Atlas, a cosmic object that is fascinating the global scientific community. The photographs, taken in the final days of this year, show the comet's impressive displacement against the starry background, a visual testament to its dizzying speed.
3I/Atlas is no ordinary comet. It is only the third interstellar object that humanity has managed to detect and confirm as originating from outside our Solar System, making it a true "traveler" from another star. Its hyperbolic trajectory confirms that it is not gravitationally bound to our Sun, but is simply passing through our cosmic neighborhood.
The fastest comet ever detected
If there is one thing that stands out about 3I/Atlas, it is its speed. This object moves at an astonishing 68 kilometers per second (km/s) relative to the Sun, which is equivalent to more than 244,000 kilometers per hour (km/h). To put it in perspective, this is a speed that far exceeds that of any known object permanently orbiting our star.
The images captured by the Z39 Observatory in Lanzarote are especially valuable because they precisely record this movement. They show how the comet moves rapidly across the night sky, leaving a trail that evidences its fleeting passage. The Z39's accreditation by NASA's Minor Planet Center underscores the quality and importance of these observations internationally.
This sighting from the island adds to the intense observation campaign being carried out worldwide. In fact, the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC) has been closely monitoring 3I/Atlas from its observatories in Tenerife and La Palma, contributing to the determination of its orbit and composition.
Although its nucleus is estimated to be of considerable size (between 10 and 30 kilometers in diameter), experts have confirmed that 3I/Atlas poses no danger to our planet, as its trajectory will keep it at a safe distance
The capture of this interstellar comet from Lanzarote is not only a technical feat for local astronomy but also underscores the privileged position of the Canary Islands for observing the cosmos, drawing the attention of local readers to a phenomenon that is, quite literally, out of this world.