Scientists studying the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS have uncovered clues about its origins. By analyzing the spectra of material shed by the comet as it passed near the Sun, researchers identified various ions (dinitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water, and hydrocarbons). A key finding was the ratio of dinitrogen gas to carbon monoxide: this suggested that 3I/ATLAS formed in conditions colder than -240°C (-400 °F). This implies the comet likely originated in the distant, icy edge of its home star system — similar to objects in our Solar System’s Kuiper Belt or Oort Cloud. The study, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, highlights the value of studying interstellar visitors like 3I/ATLAS to understand how planets form around other stars.
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