Interstellar Comet Likely Far Older Than Solar System, Say Astronomers
Astronomers have identified an interstellar comet, 3I/ATLAS, that may be the oldest object ever observed in our solar system. Data from the James Webb and ALMA telescopes suggest the comet formed in an extremely cold environment outside our solar system approximately 12 million years ago.
Why it matters
Studying interstellar objects provides rare insights into the chemical composition and formation conditions of regions beyond our solar system.
An interstellar comet that blazed past the Sun last year could be nearly three times older than our Solar System and is unlike anything ever before seen in our cosmic backyard, astronomers said Monday.
The article reports on scientific findings from a peer-reviewed journal without political or ideological framing.
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