A comet named 3I/Atlas, which passed by Earth last year, is believed to have originated from a cold, isolated part of the galaxy that hasn’t formed its own solar system. This comet is only the third confirmed interstellar visitor and could be up to 11 billion years old, making it older than the sun. Researchers from the University of Michigan used the ALMA observatory in Chile to study the comet, which was discovered last summer. As it passed Mars and approached Earth, scientists detected high levels of deuterium in its water, indicating it came from a much colder region than our solar system. The comet’s exact origin remains unknown, but its study could provide insights into early planet-forming conditions. The comet is now moving away from our solar system at a speed of 137,000 mph.
QUESTION: How might the discovery of interstellar objects like Comet 3I/Atlas change our understanding of the universe and our place in it?
Scientists trace latest interstellar comet’s home to a corner of the Milky Way
