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    Astronomers discover 3I/ATLAS – Third interstellar object to visit Solar System

    (www.abc.net.au)
    306 points gammarator | 11 comments | 03 Jul 25 03:19 UTC | HN request time: 0.922s | source | bottom

    Minor Planet Electronic Circular: https://minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K25/K25N12.html
    1. rjinman ◴[03 Jul 25 08:43 UTC] No.44452951[source]▶
    The more interstellar objects we find that resemble comets, the weirder Oumuamua is.
    replies(3): >>44453071 #>>44454020 #>>44454133 #
    2. LeoPanthera ◴[03 Jul 25 09:04 UTC] No.44453071[source]▶
    The Ramans do everything in threes.
    replies(1): >>44454191 #
    3. TheOtherHobbes ◴[03 Jul 25 11:45 UTC] No.44454020[source]▶
    Maybe. I think it's more likely that an alien probe - assuming there are aliens and they fly probes - would be the size of a cubesat, and we wouldn't even notice it.

    Perhaps Oumuamua was the mothership and the solar system is now swarming with cubesats we're not noticing.

    replies(1): >>44455880 #
    4. le-mark ◴[03 Jul 25 12:03 UTC] No.44454133[source]▶
    I really hope someone sends a probe to catch Omaumau. When Starship is flying regularly it should be doable, just barely.
    replies(4): >>44454523 #>>44455888 #>>44457571 #>>44460744 #
    5. moritonal ◴[03 Jul 25 12:12 UTC] No.44454191[source]▶
    Thank you! Finally a good Rama reference in the wild.
    6. nativeit ◴[03 Jul 25 12:55 UTC] No.44454523[source]▶
    It’s news to me that Starship flying is doable.
    7. hermitcrab ◴[03 Jul 25 15:13 UTC] No.44455880[source]▶
    >I think it's more likely that an alien probe - assuming there are aliens and they fly probes - would be the size of a cubesat

    Or maybe the size of a sub-atomic particle, as in the sci-fi Novel 'The 3 body problem'.

    https://three-body-problem.fandom.com/wiki/Sophons

    replies(1): >>44461128 #
    8. hermitcrab ◴[03 Jul 25 15:14 UTC] No.44455888[source]▶
    Can we get Musk to pilot it?
    9. russdill ◴[03 Jul 25 17:54 UTC] No.44457571[source]▶
    The chances that it's a rare type of interstellar object are incredibly small.
    10. dgellow ◴[04 Jul 25 02:48 UTC] No.44460744[source]▶
    See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Lyra
    11. callc ◴[04 Jul 25 04:28 UTC] No.44461128{3}[source]▶
    Does anyone else see a timer ticking down in their vision or is it just me?

    Time to quit my job at the LHC and be a baker.