Comet 3I/Atlas likely originated in a cold corner of the Milky Way
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- Comet 3I/Atlas, the third confirmed interstellar visitor to our solar system, is estimated to be up to 11 billion years old, making it possibly the oldest known comet from another star.
- Researchers using the ALMA observatory detected high levels of deuterium in the comet's water, indicating it originated in an extremely cold and isolated region of the galaxy before its star system formed.
- The comet passed close to Mars in October and Earth in December 2022, and is now moving away from the solar system at 137,000 mph, with its nucleus size estimated between 0.25 and 3.5 miles.
- Scientists hope studying 3I/Atlas will provide insights into the planet-forming conditions in the early galaxy, as it likely came from a solitary star system distinct from our sun’s birth environment.
- Previous interstellar objects include Oumuamua (2017) and Comet 2I/Borisov (2019), with 3I/Atlas adding valuable data to the understanding of such rare cosmic visitors.
