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There\u2019s a new object in the solar system headed toward the sun, and it may have come from interstellar space. We only know of two other objects that have entered into our solar system before, \u2018Oumuamua and Comet 2I\/Borisov. The nature of \u2018Oumuamua is still a matter of debate, and the second was a comet from another solar system. And now we may have a third interstellar visitor. Currently named A11pl3Z, this object has a trajectory that suggests it didn\u2019t originate inside our own solar system.<\/p>\n
The International Astronomical Union\u2019s Minor Planet Center added the object to their Near-Earth Object confirmation list on July 1, 2025. The object is also on NASA and the JPL website for Near-Earth Object Confirmation Page under A11pl3Z. Despite being listed as a near-Earth object, there is no fear of it hitting Earth or even coming particularly close.<\/p>\n
Astrafoxen, an astrophysics undergrad student in California on Bluesky, has shared an image of A11pl3Z from the Deep Random Survey in Chile. Additionally, Sam Deen, a prolific amateur astronomer, found earlier images of the object in ATLAS data from June 25 to 29. These data points help show the track of the object, indicating that it is almost certainly interstellar.<\/p>\n
The dim space rock is currently at about magnitude 18.8. Our new visitor, A11pl3Z, will get its closest to the sun \u2013 at about 2 astronomical units (AU), or twice as far as Earth is to the sun \u2013 in October. <\/p>\n
\nInterstellar object candidate #A11pl3Z from Deep Random Survey, Chile (obs code X09). No obvious tail, will have to do a stack to see if there’s anything\u2026<\/p>\n
Date is 2025 Jul 2 00:52:39 UTC.<\/p>\n
[image or embed]<\/p>\n
\u2014 astrafoxen (@astrafoxen.bsky.social) July 1, 2025 at 8:30 PM<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
In the image above, the dot at center is the new candidate for an interstellar object visiting our solar system, currently named A11pl3Z.<\/p>\n
\nUPDATE on our new interstellar friend #A11pl3Z:
Citizen scientist Sam Deen has found earlier observations of from June 25-28, from the ATLAS telescope!<\/p>\nNow with 6 days’ worth of data, the eccentricity of A11pl3Z’s trajectory is narrowed down to e=10.4 \u00b1 1.1!
\u2026 that’s undoubtedly interstellar.
???<\/p>\n[image or embed]<\/p>\n
\u2014 astrafoxen (@astrafoxen.bsky.social) July 1, 2025 at 9:37 PM<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\nOur friend at Atlas seem to have discovered the 3rd interstellar object deep in the milky way. Precovery data going back to June 25th is leaving little doubt. With an eccentricity near 10, this is like nothing seen before. Comet is screaming by us. ??<\/p>\n
[image or embed]<\/p>\n
\u2014 David Rankin (@asteroiddave.bsky.social) July 1, 2025 at 9:25 PM<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Bottom line: We have a new candidate for an interstellar object visiting our solar system. It\u2019s speeding toward the sun and should make its closest approach in October 2025.<\/p>\n
Via NASA\/JPL<\/p>\n
Via MPC<\/p>\n
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