3I/ATLAS Faced the Sun and Survived – How Is It Possible?
Comet 3I/ATLAS flew straight toward the Sun, took a blast of brutal heat and radiation that should have torn it apart, and somehow came out the other side still intact, leaving astronomers completely stunned. Most comets disintegrate long before they get this close, but ATLAS held together thanks to its unusual chemistry, dense core, and a super-sturdy structure that didn’t crumble under the Sun’s energy. Scientists think interstellar comets like this one formed in extreme environments around other stars, which might explain why they survive things normal comets can’t. Its survival also gives researchers a rare look at material created outside our solar system, offering clues about planets and stars far beyond our own neighborhood. Credit to: BRIGHT SIDE