Discover the Universe: Hubble Uncovers the Stunning Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS

The Hubble Space Telescope has recently made an exciting discovery—its first images of comet 3I/ATLAS. This comet is unique; it’s only the third known object to enter our solar system from outside its boundaries, following 1I/’Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019. Both of those comets have since left our solar system, but there’s a possibility that many more interstellar objects are out there, waiting to be discovered.

According to a report on Space.com, 3I/ATLAS may be more remarkable than initially thought. It likely comes from an ancient region of the Milky Way that is about 7 billion years old, making it potentially the oldest comet we’ve ever observed. In comparison, our solar system is about 4.6 billion years old.

An astrophysics student, known as astrafoxen, recently shared Hubble’s images on social media. He highlighted the comet’s puffy coma, which caught the attention of many space enthusiasts online. “Best of luck to the researchers trying to write up papers for this,” he remarked, acknowledging the challenges faced by those studying such a rare phenomenon.

Research on 3I/ATLAS has already begun. A preliminary paper details its composition, revealing that it contains abundant water ice and its dust is more like that of D-type asteroids than other space bodies. D-type asteroids are rich in organic materials and water ice, providing insights into the early solar system.

The arrival of 3I/ATLAS has created a buzz in the astronomy community. It was first detected by the ATLAS survey telescope on July 1, 2025. Following this discovery, other telescopes, including the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory, are set to observe the comet. This new observatory, which boasts the largest digital camera ever built, aims to find many more interstellar objects over the next decade.

Interestingly, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory released its first cosmic images just days before 3I/ATLAS was detected. Experts expect it could find between 5 and 50 interstellar bodies during its Legacy Survey of Space and Time, further expanding our knowledge of these mysterious visitors.

As 3I/ATLAS makes its journey through our solar system, astronomers are eager to study it closely. This comet offers a rare opportunity to learn more about celestial bodies from beyond our solar neighborhood.

You can explore Hubble’s images of 3I/ATLAS in more detail from the Hubble database.

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