Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope, the largest telescope in orbit, have captured images of an extraordinarily rare interstellar comet. The object, designated 3I/Atlas, marks only the third time an interstellar comet has ever been observed.
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Travelling towards the Sun at an astonishing 130,000mph, the comet was first discovered in July. Unusually, the images revealed no clear jet, tail, or trail, requiring scientists to use alternative methods to calculate the comet’s basic physical properties.
Analysing the near-infrared data, the team estimates that 3I/Atlas is roughly 3.5 miles wide, potentially making it one of the largest interstellar objects ever recorded. Its trajectory is exceptionally flat and straight, contributing to its extreme speed, and suggesting it has been travelling for billions of years—about 3 billion years older than our solar system.
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The comet has developed a thin carbon dioxide atmosphere, hinting at its formation near a CO₂ ice line. Unlike typical comets, it does not display a bright water-gas coma; instead, the team suggests it is emitting large chunks of mixed CO₂ and H₂O ice, where evaporative cooling suppresses vapour pressure, creating a unique observational effect.
