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‘A visitor from the Stone Age’: Nasa’s post on comet wows people

“So amazing,” wrote an Instagram user while reacting to the post.

Published on: Aug 22, 2021, 16:26:42 IST
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If you are someone who regularly follows different social media accounts managed by Nasa, then there is a chance you are aware of the various amazing posts they often share. Their latest post is the same and it describes about a comet that “might have been visible 5,000 years ago.”

Nasa took to Instagram to share the comet-related post. (Instagram/@nasa)
Nasa took to Instagram to share the comet-related post. (Instagram/@nasa)

“A visitor from the Stone Age? Possibly!” they wrote as the opening line of the caption. “Using our @NASAHubble Space Telescope, a new study reports the comet in this image – ATLAS – is a broken off piece from a larger comet that might have been visible 5,000 years ago! ATLAS follows the same orbital "railroad track" as that of a comet seen in 1844, meaning the two are probably siblings from a parent comet that broke apart at the end of the Stone Age,” they added.

In the next few lines, they explained how the comet ATLAS is “strange.” “But comet ATLAS is strange... It disintegrated into small, icy pieces in mid-2020 while it was farther from the Sun than Earth. This is the first time a long-period comet family member was seen breaking up before passing closer to our star,” the space agency described. “Its surviving sibling won’t return until the 50th century!” they concluded.

Since being posted a day ago, the share has gathered more than 6.6 lakh likes and the numbers are quickly increasing. It has also accumulated tons of comments.

“So amazing,” wrote an Instagram user. “Wow,” shared another. “Omg!” expressed a third. Many also shared heart or fire emoticons to express their reactions.

What are your thoughts on this share by Nasa?

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Trisha Sengupta

Trisha Sengupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of digital newsroom experience. Specialising in high-engagement storytelling, she blends viral trends with traditional journalism to cover the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. Her reporting spans real estate and personal finance struggles in hubs like Bengaluru and Gurgaon, the NRI experience, and corporate shifts like tech layoffs. Trisha also frequently tracks global figures and writes human interest stories. Offline, Trisha is an avid reader, history enthusiast and solo traveler. She balances her journalism career with family life while actively integrating AI tools into her modern storytelling approach.

Discover the latest Trending News, viral videos, social media stories and unusual events from India and around the world. Stay updated with the topics everyone is talking about.
Discover the latest Trending News, viral videos, social media stories and unusual events from India and around the world. Stay updated with the topics everyone is talking about.
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