American astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and British physicist Brian Cox have sparked conversation about the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. This comet, detected on July 1, 2025, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), comes from outside our Solar System, possibly traveling for an astounding 10 billion years.
What makes this comet particularly fascinating is that it behaves like a typical comet but carries a story from a different star system. Tyson and Cox wonder why some people jump to the conclusion that it could be an alien spacecraft.
Cox noted, “[3I/ATLAS] is maybe 7 or 8 billion years old, and has come from a distant star system older than our Solar System…people say it’s aliens.” In a recent episode of StarTalk, he stressed that the reality of this ancient object is far more captivating than the notion of alien visitors.
The two experts also joked about the absurdity of the alien spacecraft theory. If it were true, wouldn’t aliens design crafts that don’t act like comets? Cox added that if it were an alien ship, it certainly missed its chance to explore Earth, passing by at a distance of about 270 million kilometers (or 1.8 astronomical units) on December 19, 2025.
This comic’s high-speed journey—well over 7 billion years—offers a rare peek into our universe’s history. As Tyson and Cox pointed out, it’s more exciting to appreciate this unique cosmic visitor rather than cling to far-fetched alien theories. The comet will soon continue its journey through space, leaving us with just a fleeting glimpse.
Interestingly, data from NASA shows that interstellar objects are not as rare as we once thought. Since the discovery of the first such object, ‘Oumuamua, in 2017, several more have been identified, indicating that our galaxy is filled with these intriguing travelers.
Understanding these celestial bodies takes us deeper into the history of the universe. Historical misunderstandings about such objects often fueled alien theories, but today, with advances in technology and astronomy, we’re uncovering the stories they tell about the cosmos.
So, next time you hear about a cosmic object, remember: sometimes, the science is stranger and more incredible than fiction. Let’s focus on what these wonders can teach us about the universe.
