NASA and ESA scientists will study its composition to understand the formation of planets and stars
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A visitor from another world is approaching the solar system. The 3I/ATLAS, a comet more than 7 billion years old that existed before the Sun, will be studied in December 2025 by probes from NASA and ESA.
The analysis of this comet could change our understanding of planet formation and the early history of the galaxy, according to Space.com. It is a unique opportunity for science, since its ancient composition offers unprecedented clues.
El telescopio espacial Hubble fotografió al 3I/ATLAS
Why 3I/ATLAS is a unique comet
Not every day does the solar system receive a visit from an interstellar object. Discovered on July 1 by the ATLAS telescope, its origin is located in the "thick disk" of the Milky Way.
This makes it a true ancient refrigerator of information about the beginnings of the galaxy. According to scientists cited by Space, studying its composition could help us understand the formation of Earth and other planetary systems.
Space probes prepare for the encounter
Observing 3I/ATLAS from Earth will be impossible when it approaches the Sun. Neither James Webb nor Hubble will be able to study it up close.
Características y origen del 3I/ATLAS
The task will fall to spacecraft such as Psyche, JUICE, and Mars orbiters like Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Tianwen-1, and Hope. Some will be just 18 million miles (29 million kilometers) from the comet, compared to the 167 million miles (269 million kilometers) that will separate it from Earth.
Why detecting it in time is key
Interstellar comets offer valuable information about the top-tier past. Detecting them in advance allows us to take advantage of available technology and multiply the possible discoveries.
Dos exoplanetas gigantes observados por el telescopio espacial James Webb
Telescopes like ATLAS and the upcoming Vera Rubin Observatory will make it possible to find more messengers from other systems, although they remain extremely rare.
A scientific opportunity that may not be repeated
With 3I/ATLAS, scientists could analyze fragments left in its path or even meteor showers. Every piece of data collected will help us better understand the formation of the solar system and plan future crewed missions.
