Nasa has unveiled stunning new images of the interstellar comet designated 3I/ATLAS. This captivating celestial body offers remarkable insights into the origins of comets.
Discovery of 3I/ATLAS
The comet 3I/ATLAS was first detected on July 1, 2025. The discovery was made by the Atlas survey telescope, which is based in Chile and funded by Nasa.
Imaging and Solar Conjunction
Recent images of 3I/ATLAS were taken as the comet approached solar conjunction. This phenomenon occurred on October 21, 2025, when the comet was positioned on the opposite side of the sun relative to Earth.
Origin and Age of Comet 3I/ATLAS
Research by the Royal Astronomical Society indicates that 3I/ATLAS likely originated from the Milky Way’s thin disk layer of newly formed stars or its thick disk, which comprises older stars.
- If 3I/ATLAS is a product of the thick disk, it could be over seven billion years old.
- This age would make it older than our solar system.
As we continue to study this interstellar comet, 3I/ATLAS provides valuable information about the processes that formed our galaxy.
