In the last ten years, we’ve spotted three interstellar objects (ISOs) making their way through our Solar System. The first was ‘Oumuamua in 2017, followed by the comet 2I/Borisov in 2019, and most recently, 3I/ATLAS, detected in July 2025. This latest object seems to behave like a comet, actively releasing water vapor as it approaches the Sun. These objects were once just theories, and now they offer a thrilling peek into the mysteries of space.
Asteroids and comets are remnants from the birth of planets. Studying ISOs helps us learn about conditions in other star systems without sending missions far into space. A recent study by Shokhruz Kakharov and Prof. Abraham Loeb delves into these interstellar visitors. They analyzed the trajectories of the three ISOs to trace their origins, discovering they came from different regions of the Milky Way and are billions of years old.
Kakharov is a graduate student at Harvard, actively exploring interstellar objects and their trajectories. Prof. Loeb, a seasoned astronomer at Harvard, leads research at the Institute for Theory and Computation. Their findings have been shared in a paper currently under review for publication.
The discovery of ‘Oumuamua marked a pivotal moment in astronomy, validating the existence of ISOs and sparking further exploration. Kakharov noted that before 2017, there was no concrete evidence for objects drifting in from beyond our Solar System. Each ISO provides unique material samples, revealing the chemical and physical properties of distant planetary systems.
Using advanced simulations, Kakharov and Loeb analyzed how these objects traveled through space, generating 10,000 potential paths for each ISO. This statistical method, involving intricate calculations of gravity and motion, allowed them to understand where these objects might have originated.
The research showed that 3I/ATLAS is the oldest, at around 4.6 billion years, coming from the Milky Way’s thick disk, filled with older stars. In contrast, ‘Oumuamua is just about 1 billion years old, while 2I/Borisov sits in between at approximately 1.7 billion years.
According to Kakharov, this diversity suggests that ISOs are not only from recently formed systems; they come from various points in the galaxy’s history. The future looks promising for ISO research. With the Vera C. Rubin Observatory set to enhance detection rates, we could uncover many more interstellar objects soon. This upcoming technology will greatly expand our understanding of the frequency and diversity of ISOs throughout the universe.
In summary, the study of interstellar objects opens up a fascinating chapter in astronomy. These cosmic travelers not only enhance our knowledge of space but also inspire curiosity about what else lies beyond our Solar System.
For more detailed insights, you can explore the paper from the Harvard research team here.
