What system first spotted 3I/ATLAS in 2019?

Answer

Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS)

The celestial body designated 3I/ATLAS was initially identified by the system specifically named for discovery purposes: the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, commonly abbreviated as ATLAS. Although this system is primarily tasked with scanning the skies to locate near-Earth objects that could pose an impact threat to Earth, it successfully cataloged this distant traveler in the year 2019, adding it to the astronomical records as a significant visitor from outside the solar system.

What system first spotted 3I/ATLAS in 2019?

#Videos

Newly-discovered 3I/ATLAS comet makes closest approach to Earth

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