Interstellar comet that zoomed past Earth could be oldest and coldest object ever seen in solar system, astronomers say
Researchers say isotopes from Webb and ALMA point to a natural comet formed in a deeply frozen environment before the Solar System.
- On Tuesday, researchers reported that interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS likely formed in a chemically primitive region of the early Milky Way, with James Webb Space Telescope observations suggesting it is between 3 billion and 11 billion years old.
- This comet appears to have been born in a cold environment—roughly-243 C—colder than where Earth formed 4.5 billion years ago, while carbon isotope ratios indicate it formed 12 billion years ago.
- With a diameter of around 2.6 km, 3I/ATLAS is moving at more than 60 kilometers per second, faster than predecessors 1I/Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov, making it the third interstellar object ever detected.
- NASA astrochemist Martin Cordiner stated the discovery provides direct insight into the distant galaxy, while researchers noted the comet's organic molecules highlight possibilities of prebiotic chemistry elsewhere in the galaxy.
- The Vera Rubin Observatory, which came online this summer, is expected to aid future detection of interstellar objects, helping scientists move from studying individuals to a larger population to understand star formation.
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NASA looks for the origins of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS | Space photo of the day for June 24, 2026
Researchers using JWST are finding clues about comet 3I/ATLAS' origins. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Martin Cordiner (CUA, NASA-GSFC); Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI))NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is finding clues that are leading scientists closer to understanding the origins of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. What is it? Comet 3I/ATLAS captured the world's attention when it was discovered nearly a year ago on July 1, 2025.…
The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS continues to make headlines. Researchers have now discovered how old the comet is – "a unique opportunity."
Interstellar Visitor 3I/ATLAS Is Bursting With an Unexpected Chemical
Astronomers have found that interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS contains an unusually large amount of methanol. Every interstellar object that passes through our solar system offers a rare chance to sample material forged around another star. Now, new observations of comet 3I/ATLAS using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have revealed a chemical surprise: the comet is [...]
The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, which was discovered almost a year ago, could already be about 12 billion years old. It would be almost three times as old as our solar system.
3I/Atlas, the comet from another solar system that flew past Earth last year, is likely 10 to 12 billion years old. That is much older than astronomers initially thought. This is stated in a new study.
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