Chemistry Reveals the Origins of an Interstellar Comet
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4 Articles
Universe Today
Knowridge Science ReportChemistry Reveals the Origins of an Interstellar Comet
Somewhere in the Milky Way Galaxy is an old star that has lost one of its comets. By some quirk of orbital mechanics, that frozen nucleus of ice and dust got kicked out of its home system and into a long and winding trajectory across space. It entered our Solar System sometime in the distant past and traveled somewhat near to Earth on October 30, 2025, on its way through the system.
Comet 3I/ATLAS likely originated from the edge of a star system that was twice as old as the Sun. Astronomers have gained new insights into its origins by analyzing its chemical composition. The discovery was made using data from the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile.
The water and carbon in 3I/ATLAS reveal an extremely cold and ancient origin, possibly in a planetary system formed during the early stages of the Milky Way's evolution. Comet ATLAS caused quite a stir because it came from interstellar space. 3I/ATLAS arrived in the Solar System with a composition unlike that of any known local body, leading many to believe it was an extraterrestrial spacecraft. However, it was only the third confirmed interstel…
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