“We are watching something ancient—older than Earth, older than our Sun—passing briefly through our cosmic front yard,” an astronomer noted.
Unraveling the Signal: What MeerKAT Found
Earlier attempts to detect OH emissions failed, but an October solar alignment created ideal conditions. MeerKAT finally captured the signal at 2.9 AU from the Sun, confirming active outgassing.
Water loss estimates—about 40 kilograms per second—were previously measured by NASA’s Swift Observatory, reinforcing the natural cometary behavior.
Meanwhile, some scientists—including Harvard’s Avi Loeb—continue to argue that certain anomalies could point to an artificial origin. Many in the scientific community, however, dismiss this, citing natural gas dynamics and measurement limitations.
Continued Mysteries and Future Observations
31/ATLAS displayed an unusual anti-solar tail orientation in early images before later reversing direction. Its composition—rich in CO₂ and dark, icy material—adds further intrigue.
