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Strange interstellar comet speculated to be alien spacecraft is older than Solar System
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, discovered in July 2025, is now believed to be nearly 12 billion years old, potentially predating our Solar System and originating from an ancient planetary system.
- Initial speculation that 3I/ATLAS could be an alien spacecraft was dismissed after the SETI Institute found no evidence of extraterrestrial technology through extensive radio scans.
- Analysis using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope revealed the comet has a unique isotopic composition, with unusually high levels of deuterium and carbon ratios unlike any Solar System body.
- The comet likely formed in an extremely cold, metal-poor environment at around -243°C (30 Kelvin), indicating it accreted following a period of intense early star formation.
- Researchers consider 3I/ATLAS a preserved fragment of an ancient planetary system, providing valuable insights into the physical and chemical conditions of its origin.
