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Interstellar comet may be oldest object seen in our solar system, research finds

Researchers estimate the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS could be up to 12 billion years old. Data from the James Webb Space Telescope suggests the object is nearly three times older than the solar system. It is the third confirmed object to originate from beyond our solar system.

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New research and telescope data indicate the comet's ancient origin and unique chemistry.

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  1. Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS May Be Oldest Object Seen in Solar System

    Researchers estimate the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS could be up to 12 billion years old. Data from the James Webb Space Telescope suggests the object is nearly three times older than the solar system. It is the third confirmed object to originate from beyond our solar system.

    What's confirmed:

    • Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS may be up to 12 billion years old.
    • The comet is the third confirmed object to come from beyond the solar system.
    • NASA's James Webb Space Telescope provided evidence regarding the comet's age and origin.
    • Astronomers discovered the comet in July 2025.
    • The object began moving away from the Sun in December 2025.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • Radio scans found no alien technology on the comet.
    • A process called hot bottom burning helped determine the age of the comet.
    • The comet spent billions of years on vast trajectories around the galaxy.
    • The exact origin of the comet within the Milky Way is unknown.
    confidence 90%