A new study suggests that comet 3I/ATLAS might have one last close encounter with our Solar System before it heads out into interstellar space in 2026. This paper delves into the comet’s past journey and future trajectory, giving us exciting insights into this unique visitor.
If you haven’t been following space news, let me fill you in. On July 1, 2025, the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) discovered this comet zooming through our Solar System at a staggering speed of about 58 kilometers per second. It’s the third confirmed interstellar object we’ve encountered, after 1I/’Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov. While some have speculated wildly, claiming that 3I/ATLAS is a spacecraft, scientists agree it’s a natural object. However, this doesn’t diminish its significance—it’s a glimpse into the cosmos that could reveal secrets about distant stars.
The latest paper aims to model the future path of 3I/ATLAS. Scientists aren’t entirely sure where it originated, but some theories suggest it may come from the “thick disk” of the Milky Way. Chris Lintott, an astrophysicist at the University of Oxford, notes, “This comet is coming in much faster than the other two, but it fits within expected ranges for cosmic objects.” He also believes the comet might have been traveling for billions of years before we spotted it.
Interestingly, a prior study suggests that 3I/ATLAS has not encountered another celestial body in about 10 million years, and it may have traveled solo for up to 10 billion years! This long journey adds a layer of mystery to the comet’s origin.
In estimating its path, researchers found that 3I/ATLAS is likely moving from the Sagittarius constellation toward Gemini at a mean speed of 58.01 kilometers per second. However, they emphasize that the exact region of its origin remains shrouded in uncertainty.
As it approaches Jupiter in March 2026, the comet will experience gravitational effects from both Mars and Jupiter. Since it will be very close to Jupiter during this encounter, its trajectory may change significantly, making this a critical moment to observe the comet. The team predicts that, based on its path and the expected gravitational forces, the best window for observational study will be between March 9 and March 22, 2026.
This research underscores our ongoing quest for knowledge of the universe. By studying such interstellar visitors, we can learn more about the building blocks of planetary systems and the conditions that shaped our own Solar System.
For more details, you can check out the study on arXiv. As we continue to observe 3I/ATLAS, the scientific community eagerly awaits new data that could reshape our understanding of these wandering cosmic travelers.
