New Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS’s Biggest Mysteries Explained

image via New Scientist

July 17, 2025, 1:30 PM

• •Astronomers are racing to study the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, the third known visitor from beyond our solar system.
• •Scientists are eager to observe 3I/ATLAS to determine its origin, size, rotation rate, and chemical composition.
• •JWST and Hubble will be used to study 3I/ATLAS, but observations will be challenging due to the object's trajectory and Earth's position.
• •The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is expected to find more interstellar objects, which will help understand planetesimal formation.
• •One of the puzzling questions is why we haven’t seen much smaller interstellar objects, such as meteors.

Astronomers are excitedly studying 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar comet that recently entered our solar system, marking only the third such object ever observed. Scientists are rushing to study 3I/ATLAS before it leaves, as it offers a unique opportunity to learn about objects from outside our solar system. They are using powerful telescopes like JWST and Hubble to determine the comet's origins, size, and composition. The data collected should give insight into the nature of planet formation throughout the galaxy.

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