Astronomers have detected a mysterious object coming from outside our solar system, heading toward Earth at a very high speed. It is expected to pass close to our planet on December 17.
Harvard physicist Avi Loeb stated that the object, named A11pl3Z, is traveling at over 66 kilometers per second (about 241,000 km/h), making it nearly unaffected by the gravitational pull of the Sun or other planets in our solar system.
The object was first spotted in late June by astronomer Sam Dean, and the International Astronomical Union has since confirmed its interstellar origin.
Loeb believes A11pl3Z could be a large space rock or comet, but its true nature is still under investigation.
Measuring about 19 kilometers wide, this object is significantly larger than previous interstellar visitors such as ‘Oumuamua and Comet Borisov.
It is currently within our solar system, at a distance of 3.8 astronomical units (AU) from Earth (1 AU = the distance between Earth and the Sun, about 93 million miles).
Scientists predict that A11pl3Z will approach Mars in October at a distance of 55 million km, and then pass by Earth in December at a safe distance of about 360 million km.
Despite its massive size — large enough to be classified as a "planet killer" if it were to impact — scientists confirm that A11pl3Z poses no threat to Earth.
However, Loeb suggests it may be a comet with a small core surrounded by a cloud of gas and dust reflecting sunlight, which would make it appear larger in telescopes.
Due to its extreme speed, astronomers have a limited window to study this cosmic visitor before it exits the solar system in 2026. Advanced telescopes like the Rubin Observatory in Chile and the James Webb Space Telescope will be used to gather more data.
Scientists are now working to confirm A11pl3Z’s expected trajectory: a close approach to the Sun in October, a flyby of Earth in December, and an encounter with Jupiter in March 2026.