Scientists have discovered that the second interstellar particle ever detected as it passes through the solar system is a comet that looks very similar to comets formed in our region of the universe, new evidence that other planetary systems may be intense. Similar to our system.
Astronomers yesterday gave a set of preliminary details about the comet, which is now moving rapidly towards the sun, and said it has a solid nucleus about a kilometer in diameter and a cloud-like structure is a mixture of dust and gas emitted by the nucleus and the distinctive tail of comets and a reddish color.
An amateur astronomer named Gennady Borisov was the first to discover the particle in August, dubbed 21 Borisov. The first such particle to be discovered in our solar system was a cigar-like rock object called Umwamwa in 2017.
The new comet was studied using telescopes in Hawaii and Spain.
"Its properties, which have been identified so far, show in terms of composition, color and estimated size, that they are remarkably similar to the comets of our solar system," said astronomer Michel Drahus of Jagiellonian University in Poland. "This is important because it shows that comets are in interstellar space, and this confirms long-standing speculation, and shows us that these comets are similar in this solar system and around other stars."
The comets formed 21 Borisov and Umwamoa in other planetary systems and were expelled from disturbances of gravity to interstellar space and became like orphan objects wandering in the universe.
"Fugitive bodies from other planetary systems regularly visit our solar system.
"Things are going on like this permanently, and we have only been able to monitor them recently."
The comet is expected to reach the nearest point of the Sun on December 8, and to reach the nearest point of the earth shortly thereafter, reaching 300 million kilometers from our planet.
For comparison, the moon is 386,000 kilometers from Earth.