Archive · 9 Jan 2026
Comet 3I/ATLAS Older Than the Sun
Scientists have discovered a comet named 3I/ATLAS that is older than the Sun.
This comet, which comes from outside our solar system, was first seen in July 2025.
It is between 8 and 14 billion years old, making it much older than our solar system, which is about 4.6 billion years old.
The comet has unique features like a teardrop-shaped dust cocoon and a special chemical makeup.
Scientists studied it closely when it was nearest to Earth in December 2025 and found no signs of extraterrestrial technology.
The comet is now leaving our solar system and will pass by Jupiter in March 2026.
This discovery helps scientists learn more about the early universe.
Comet 3I/ATLAS, discovered in July 2025, is estimated to be 8 to 14 billion years old, making it older than the Sun.
It is the third interstellar object discovered, following Oumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019).
The comet has unique characteristics, including a teardrop-shaped dust cocoon and a special chemical composition.
Scientists used the Green Bank Telescope to study the comet and found no evidence of extraterrestrial technology.
3I/ATLAS is currently on a hyperbolic trajectory and will fly by Jupiter in March 2026.
- Who
- Research team led by Michele Bannister, University of Canterbury and University of Oxford
- What
- Discovery and study of comet 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar object older than the Sun
- When
- Discovered in July 2025, closest approach to Earth on 19 December 2025
- Where
- Discovered in Chile, currently traveling through the solar system
- Why
- To understand the origins of the universe and the building blocks of the universe from far beyond the reach of direct observance
- Name
- 3I/ATLAS (formerly C/2025 N1 (ATLAS))
- Discovery Date
- July 2025
- Discovery Location
- Chile, by the ATLAS telescope
- Age Estimate
- 8 to 14 billion years
- Closest Approach to Earth
- 270 million km on 19 December 2025
- Next Celestial Encounter
- March 2026, flyby of Jupiter at 53.6 billion km
- Research Team
- University of Canterbury and University of Oxford
- Publications
- Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters, The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Astronomy and Astrophysics