Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS is the gift that keeps on giving. A snapshot of space that lies beyond the solar system, it brings clues to our understanding of other stars, other worlds and the galaxy we call home. Just three such interstellar objects have ever been discovered, and by studying each one, we learn more about what’s outside our cosmic neighborhood.
Last year the comet was on course to pass our sun, reaching speeds of more than 150,000 miles per hour at its closest point. That trajectory gave scientists an opportunity to observe the comet in detail, revealing that it is exceptionally alcoholic.
“Observing 3I/ATLAS is like taking a fingerprint from another solar system,” said Nathan Roth, a research assistant professor at American University, in a statement. “The details reveal what it’s made of, and it’s bursting with methanol in a way we just don’t usually see in comets in our own solar system.”
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