Alien comet visiting our solar system is ‘like nothing ever seen before’, top scientists say
AN INTERSTELLAR comet is visiting the Milky Way and it's like nothing scientists have ever seen before.
Known as 2I/Borisov, the comet is said to have the potential to transform what we know about the universe.
Scientists have been comparing it to the creepy space rock Oumuamua.
Oumuamua was the first interstellar object to be detected in our solar system, meaning it had travelled from a far off place outside the Milky Way.
It is so unusual in shape and behaviour that some people even thought it was an alien probe.
Comet 2I/Borisov is the second 'alien' visitor ever seen by astronomers.
Researchers managed to spot the comet back in September with a special computer programme designed specifically to find interstellar objects.
They were also able to take pictures of 2I/Borisov and observe it more closely.
One of the researchers, Michal Drahus of the Jagiellonian University, said: "We immediately noticed the familiar coma and tail that were not seen around 'Oumuamua.
"This is really cool because it means that our new visitor is one of these mythical and never-before-seen 'real' interstellar comets."
Further investigation confirmed the comet was oddly similar to other comets despite coming from so far away.
It's said to be reddish in colour with a solid core that has a diameter of around one kilometre.
Researchers will continue to observe the object as it becomes more visible in the hope of making new discoveries.
Co-author of the study Waclaw Waniak from Jagiellonian University said: "The comet is still emerging from the Sun's morning glare and growing in brightness.
"It will be observable for several months, which makes us believe that the best is yet to come."
The team's findings have been published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
What's the difference between an asteroid, meteor and comet?
Here's what you need to know, according to Nasa...
- Asteroid: An asteroid is a small rocky body that orbits the Sun. Most are found in the asteroid belt (between Mars and Jupiter) but they can be found anywhere (including in a path that can impact Earth)
- Meteoroid: When two asteroids hit each other, the small chunks that break off are called meteoroids
- Meteor: If a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere, it begins to vapourise and then becomes a meteor. On Earth, it'll look like a streak of light in the sky, because the rock is burning up
- Meteorite: If a meteoroid doesn't vapourise completely and survives the trip through Earth's atmosphere, it can land on the Earth. At that point, it becomes a meteorite
- Comet: Like asteroids, a comet orbits the Sun. However rather than being made mostly of rock, a comet contains lots of ice and gas, which can result in amazing tails forming behind them (thanks to the ice and dust vapourising)
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What do you make of this comet? Let us know in the comments...
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