Introduction to the Discovery
Scientists have made a remarkable discovery concerning the largest known Oort Cloud comet, C/2014 UN271, also referred to as Bernardinelli-Bernstein. This groundbreaking finding comes from observations conducted on March 8 and March 17, 2024. Researchers utilized advanced ALMA imaging techniques to capture molecular activity from this distant comet, located 16.6 astronomical units away from the Sun.
This significant observation sheds light on the composition and behavior of comets in the Oort Cloud. The molecular activity detected not only enhances our understanding of this specific comet but also offers insights into the formation and evolution of comets in general. Such findings could lead to further research and discoveries about the origins of our solar system.
