The presence of an interstellar visitor in our Solar System has prompted a swathe of questions, such as why it here? Is it an alien mothership? And how did it get such a catchy name? The space rock has a catchy name (Image: ESA/Hubble/NASA/ESO/M.Kornmesser / SWNS)

A mystery object hurtling through space has sparked a number of questions since it was first spotted in the summer. People have been asking where 3I/Atlas came from, what does it want and, increasingly, why is it called that?

The make-up of interstellar visitor has been baffling boffins for months. Some claim it is a comet, but theoretical physicist Avi Loeb has suggested the object blasting through the Solar System at 130,000mph could be an alien "mothership" on a reconnaissance mission.

Even SpaceX Elon Musk has co

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