A Time Capsule from the Origins of the Galaxy: Comet 3I/ATLAS, 10 Billion Years Old
For centuries, we have gazed at the sky searching for signs of the past. This time, it’s not an ancient star or distant galaxy, but an icy rock that has just entered our solar system. Scientists say it holds chemical traces from the early days of the universe.
A Visitor from Another Time
Discovered on July 1, 2025, by the ATLAS surveillance system in Chile, this interstellar traveler, named 3I/ATLAS, has passed through the galaxy almost undisturbed, offering a pristine sample of material from the first planetary systems.
A Comet Defying Time and Physics
Unlike objects from our own solar system, this comet originates from a different environment and time, revealing details about the early universe’s chemistry. Its high speed suggests it was launched into interstellar void billions of years ago.
The New Galactic Archaeology
This comet marks the beginning of a new field in astronomy, galactic archaeology. By studying these rare interstellar visitors, astronomers aim to unravel the mysteries of planetary formation and evolution in the Milky Way. Each of these bodies serves as a time capsule, crossing the cosmos to bring insights from a time before life existed.
