Third Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS May Be 12 Billion Years Old
In July 2025, astronomers detected 3I/ATLAS, the third confirmed interstellar object to enter our Solar System, using the ATLAS telescope in Chile. Analysis by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope revealed it may be up to 12 billion years old—older than the Sun—based on unique deuterium and carbon isotope ratios. The comet quickly developed a visible coma and tail, enabling extensive international study before it exited the Solar System permanently on a hyperbolic trajectory.
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Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Found to Be Up to 12 Billion Years Old
Scientists studying interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS have determined it is between 10 and 12 billion years old, making it potentially the oldest known object to pass through the solar system. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers measured hydrogen and carbon isotope ratios on the 2.6 km diameter comet. The comet's water contains roughly 30 times more deuterium than solar system comets, indicating formation in an exceptionally cold environment (around -243°C) with high UV and cosmic ray irradiation. Its carbon isotope ratios differ from all known solar system objects and nearby interstellar clouds. Despite its ancient, cold origin, 3I/ATLAS is rich in organic molecules (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur), suggesting life-essential elements were abundant in its distant planetary disk. The comet, only the third interstellar object detected, is currently approaching Saturn's orbit and will exit the solar system around 2035. It was likely ejected from its home planetary system through gravitational interactions or collisions.
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.NASA’s Webb Finds Clues to Ancient, Distant Origin of Comet 3I/ATLAS
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has provided new insights into the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, suggesting it may be one of the oldest objects ever observed in our solar system. The comet, which originates from outside the solar system, exhibits a unique chemical composition unlike any previously seen, offering clues about the early universe. Reports from NASA, the European Space Agency, The Guardian, ScienceAlert, and Scientific American highlight that the comet's ancient material could date back nearly to the formation of the universe itself. The findings challenge existing models of interstellar objects and provide a rare window into the primordial conditions of distant star systems.
Top stories - Google NewsInterstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS, Possibly 12 Billion Years Old, Passes Through Solar System
In July 2025, astronomers detected 3I/ATLAS, only the third confirmed interstellar object to enter our Solar System. Analysis in early 2026 suggests the comet may be up to 12 billion years old—potentially older than the Sun—based on deuterium-to-hydrogen ratios measured by the James Webb Space Telescope. The object originated from another star system and is traveling on a hyperbolic trajectory at too high a speed to be captured by the Sun's gravity, meaning it will now leave the Solar System forever. The discovery triggered a major international observation campaign involving NASA and ESA. Despite early speculation about artificial origins, data confirmed it is a natural comet. It follows the naming convention of 1I/Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov, and its visible coma and tail allowed more detailed study than previous interstellar visitors.
19FortyFiveIn July 2025, astronomers spotted only the third object ever confirmed to come from beyond our Solar System — a comet called 3I/ATLAS that may be 12 billion years old
In July 2025, astronomers detected 3I/ATLAS, only the third confirmed interstellar object to enter our Solar System. The comet, discovered by the ATLAS telescope in Chile, is believed to be 12 billion years old, older than the Sun. Analysis using the James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRSpec instrument revealed a deuterium-to-hydrogen ratio distinct from Solar System comets, confirming its extrasolar origin. Traveling on a hyperbolic trajectory at too high a speed to be captured by the Sun's gravity, 3I/ATLAS has now exited the Solar System forever. The object sparked international observation campaigns and brief speculation about artificial origin, though data confirmed it is natural. It follows 1I/Oumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019) as the third known interstellar visitor.
19FortyFiveThird Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS May Be 12 Billion Years Old, Older Than the Sun
In July 2025, astronomers detected 3I/ATLAS, only the third confirmed interstellar object to pass through our Solar System. Using the James Webb Space Telescope's NIRSpec instrument, researchers led by NASA's Martin Cordiner analyzed deuterium-to-hydrogen ratios in the comet's water ice, finding it to be between 3 and 12 billion years old—potentially older than the Sun. The object originated around another star and is on a hyperbolic trajectory, meaning it travels too fast to be captured and is now heading permanently back into interstellar space. Unlike previous interstellar visitors 1I/Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov, 3I/ATLAS quickly developed a visible coma and tail, enabling extensive study. Despite brief speculation about artificial origin, data confirmed it is a natural comet. The discovery triggered a major international observing campaign involving NASA, ESA, and amateur astronomers.
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