A team of international researchers has reported the detection of the first radio signal coming from 3I/Atlas, a finding that many experts say promises to end the debate about its nature.
Through the publication made in Astronomer’s telegram On November 4, scientists reported that they had observed a comet through a radio telescope MeerKAT Oct 24 from 05:17:16 to 08:29:37 UTC. That is, five days before it reached the closest point to the Sun.
According to researchers, “OH absorption was detected at the 1665 MHz and 1667 MHz lines”.
However, this is not a radio signal similar to what a spacecraft might emit, as some 3I/Atlas conspiracy theories suggest, but rather radio frequency chartexperts believe Wired.
What does the detection of the first radio signal from Comet 3I/Atlas mean?
In particular, MeerKAT detected radio absorption lines from hydroxyl radicals, i.e. OH molecules, which would be consistent with the expected activity of the comet..
OH has the ability to absorb or emit radiation at specific frequencies due to energy level transitions, which helps astronomers identify regions where stars and water in the universe are born.
In other words, it can “glow” brightly at radio frequencies under certain conditions, according to the aforementioned media specializing in science and technology.
According to National Geographicthe results show that OH was detected with a clear but weak signal, and that the absorption peaks not only confirm the presence of water vapor in the gaseous envelope surrounding the nucleus (known to scientists as the coma), but also place the comet within the expected behavior of active comets.
Although 3I/Atlas has generated speculation and even conspiracy theories about its nature, The data obtained so far suggest that it is not an artificial object and that it conforms to the physical properties expected of an icy comet..
However, as reported by the aforementioned media, The detection of OH lines opens the way for new research which can study both its activity and the injection of its coma with the solar medium and its response to radiation and the solar wind.
