Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is much older than the solar system itself
Scientists have identified an interstellar comet, 3I/ATLAS, that is estimated to be 10 to 12 billion years old. Data from the James Webb Space Telescope reveals a unique chemical composition that suggests it formed in a much colder environment than our solar system.
Why it matters
This discovery provides rare insights into the chemical and physical conditions of primordial planetary systems outside our own.
Scientists studying the comet 3I/ATLAS have determined that this interstellar visitor is remarkably ancient – formed an estimated 10 to 12 billion years ago in a primordial planetary system – and has a composition unlike anything in our solar system.
The article is a straightforward scientific report based on published research findings.
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