Ancient interstellar object 3I/ATLAS offers first glimpse into thick disk comet chemistry
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, first observed by the ATLAS survey in Chile on July 1, 2025, is the third confirmed object of its kind to enter the solar system. Analysis of its hyperbolic trajectory and inbound velocity of ~58 km/s confirms its extrasolar origin, while kinematic modeling suggests it formed in the Milky Way’s ancient thick disk, offering a rare opportunity to study early galactic comet chemistry.
