Forget UFOs: Is Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS the Key to Understanding Planet Formation?

Fast-moving objects like the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS might be key to understanding how planets form in our Solar System. Discovered on July 1, 2025, this comet zips through space at nearly twice the speed of previous interstellar visitors, like ‘Oumuamua and Comet Borisov. It’s much larger too, with a nucleus estimated at about 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles).

Scientists are excited about this comet for several reasons. Unlike anything we’ve seen before, it may hail from a different part of our galaxy and could be far older than known bodies in our Solar System. It has sparked wild theories, including that it might be an alien spacecraft—though experts, including NASA, hastily dismissed these claims.

One fascinating theory comes from Professor Susanne Pfalzner of Forschungszentrum Jülich, presented at the EPSC-DPS2025 conference. She suggests that interstellar comets could act as “planet seeds,” helping to form new planets. Traditional models of planet formation propose that planets emerge in disks of gas and dust, but challenges exist. Some massive planets appear too young to fit current models, leading scientists like Pfalzner to explore new ideas.

Current theories state that it usually takes millions of years for planetesimals to form and grow. Yet, interstellar objects could shorten that timeline. Pfalzner notes that these comets might be able to accelerate planet formation, especially around higher-mass stars. The gravity of these stars would attract more interstellar objects, providing a rich environment for forming planets quickly.

Recent research also indicates that gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn are rare around smaller stars. Perhaps interstellar seeds could explain why gas giants are more common around larger stars with more efficient planet-forming processes. Pfalzner suggests these seeds could help jump-start the formation of Earth-like bodies as well.

This idea is not just a theory; it’s supported by new findings. If true, it implies that planets like Earth might have some of their material originating from interstellar space. This could reshape our understanding of planetary formation itself. More observations of these interstellar objects will be crucial as we explore this intriguing possibility further.

The latest findings were presented at the EPSC-DPS2025 conference. For more information, you can visit [Europlanet](https://www.europlanet.org/epsc-dps2025-how-interstellar-objects-similar-to-3i-atlas-could-jump-start-planet-formation-around-infant-stars/).

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