NASA has unveiled striking new images of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, confirming its status as a comet. The celestial body was first detected on July 1, 2025, by the NASA-funded Atlas survey telescope in Chile.
The images were captured as 3I/ATLAS approached solar conjunction on October 21, 2025, positioning it behind the Sun from Earth’s view.
Research by the Royal Astronomical Society offers clues about the comet’s origins. Preliminary analysis points to the Milky Way’s thin disk layer, home to younger stars. However, scientists also consider the possibility of a thicker disk populated by much older stars.
A thick disk origin would make 3I/ATLAS over seven billion years old, predating our solar system. This ancient material presents a rare chance to study remnants from the galaxy’s early history. The findings could enhance knowledge of the Milky Way’s formation and evolution.