Home / Science / Ancient Comet Older Than Sun Stuns Scientists
Ancient Comet Older Than Sun Stuns Scientists
6 Jan
Summary
- Comet 3I/ATLAS may be 8 to 14 billion years old.
- It exhibits unique chemistry with rich nickel and iron.
- Scientists observed unusual wobbling jet features.
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, a rare visitor from another star system, is providing groundbreaking insights into the early universe. Scientists estimate its age to be between eight and 14 billion years, predating our own Sun. This extraordinary age, combined with its distinct chemical composition, including unusually high levels of nickel and iron, sets it apart from any known solar system comets.
The comet's journey through our solar system has been closely monitored, revealing peculiar characteristics. Observations from the James Webb Space Telescope confirmed an abundance of carbon dioxide, suggesting formation in a frigid, distant environment. Furthermore, unusual jet-like features were detected, exhibiting a distinct wobbling pattern, hinting at a slow rotation period.
As only the third confirmed interstellar object after 'Oumuamua and Borisov, 3I/ATLAS's arrival is a significant astronomical event. Its closest approach to Earth was on December 19, 2025. Like its predecessors, it is now drifting away and is projected to leave the solar system entirely, leaving scientists to ponder its origins.
