Is interstellar object 3I/ATLAS older than our Sun? Here’s what it might reveal about the origins and observations |

When astronomers first spotted a faint, fast-moving object racing through the outer Solar System in mid-2025, few expected it to challenge what we know about cosmic history. Now known as 3I/ATLAS, the object has become one of the most intriguing astronomical discoveries of the decade. Early observations suggest it did not form alongside our Sun,…

Read More

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS heads for the outer solar system after its closest approach to Earth

On Friday (Dec. 19), the interstellar invader, comet 3I/ATLAS, made its closest approach to Earth, coming to within 168 million miles (270 million kilometers) of our planet at 1 a.m. EST (0600 GMT). Following this close approach and the opportunity it offers to investigate this interloper from beyond the solar system, 3I/ATLAS will begin to…

Read More