Scientists trace latest interstellar comet’s home to a cold, isolated corner of the Milky Way
Summary
Scientists studied comet 3I/Atlas, an object from outside our solar system that passed near Earth in 2025. They found it likely came from a very cold and isolated part of our galaxy and may be up to 11 billion years old, much older than the Sun.Key Facts
- Comet 3I/Atlas is the third confirmed interstellar visitor to our solar system.
- It could be as old as 11 billion years, more than twice the age of the Sun.
- Scientists observed the comet using telescopes including the Hubble Space Telescope and the ALMA observatory in Chile.
- The comet passed close to Mars in October 2025 and made its closest approach to Earth in December 2025.
- High levels of deuterium (heavy hydrogen) in its water suggest it formed in a very cold environment before any star formed there.
- The comet’s nucleus measures between 440 meters and 5.6 kilometers wide.
- It is traveling away from the solar system at about 137,000 mph (220,000 kph).
- The comet’s exact birthplace in the Milky Way is still unknown.
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