science βοΈ Interstellar comet offers cosmic chemical clues π
Comet 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar visitor, drifted between stars before entering our Solar System. This object, spotted on 1 July 2025 in Chile, provided a chemical sample of material from another star. Analysis showed its water was enriched in deuterium by over 30 times compared to typical Solar System comets. This chemical imbalance suggests the ice formed at very low temperatures, preserving its ancient record. After its single passage, 3I/ATLAS will return to the dark between the stars. πͺ