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DemSkilzDudes t1_j4cppxn wrote

C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is a long period comet, not an interstellar object. It would just come back round in 50,000 years so I'm not entirely sure the purpose of this.

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its-octopeople t1_j4cs5s0 wrote

The eccentricity of C/2022 E3's orbit is listed here as 1.0003290, which, since it's just barely bigger than 1, and if accurate, means it's on a hyperbolic escape trajectory.

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Coffee_Huffer t1_j4crhx7 wrote

In 50,000 years we would be the aliens. I see what you mean it would just be a time capsule. It would need multiple missions attached to it. To even make it worth it.

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pmMeAllofIt t1_j4cvvq0 wrote

That was it's inbound orbit, or its last orbit, which changes after this flyby.

A lot of headlines saying "won't be seen for another 50k..." mislead people at first(myself included).

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