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Interstellar comet may be oldest object seen in our solar system, scientists say

Astronomers have identified 3I/ATLAS as the third confirmed interstellar object. Research suggests the comet may be up to 12 billion years old, making it significantly older than the Sun. The object is currently passing through the solar system before returning to interstellar space.

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Recent analysis of the comet's gas composition and origin suggests it may be the oldest and coldest object ever observed in the solar system.

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

    Astronomers have identified 3I/ATLAS as the third confirmed interstellar object. Research suggests the comet may be up to 12 billion years old, making it significantly older than the Sun. The object is currently passing through the solar system before returning to interstellar space.

    What's confirmed:

    • Comet 3I/ATLAS was first spotted in July 2025.
    • 3I/ATLAS is the third object confirmed to come from beyond the solar system.
    • Researchers estimate the comet may be up to 12 billion years old.
    • The object's age is approximately three times the age of the solar system.
    • NASA's Webb telescope found clues regarding the ancient and distant origin of the comet.
    • The comet is likely among the coldest objects ever seen in our solar system.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • The comet originated from the thick disk of the Milky Way.
    • The comet's chemistry is unlike anything previously seen.
    • Radio scans found no alien technology from the comet.
    • Methane may have been a signature of life in 3I/ATLAS.
    • The comet spent billions of years on unimaginable trajectories around the galaxy.
    • The comet's exact origin within the Milky Way remains a mystery.
    confidence 90%