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NASA scientists have made an important breakthrough. They confirmed the detection of the chemical signature of water on interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. The discovery could fundamentally change our understanding of cometary evolution and whether distant planetary systems might harbor the basic ingredients for life.
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS was first identified on 1 July 2025. It was detected by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Final Alert System (ATLAS) in Hawaii. 3I/ATLAS is the third interstellar object ever discovered. The others were 1I/’Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019.
3I/ATLAS Travel on hyperbolic trajectory
Unlike most comets orbiting the Sun, 3I/ATLAS is currently traveling on a hyperbolic trajectory. This means that it did not originate in our solar system; It has come from another star system and will depart from our solar system forever. Astronomers estimate its age to be a remarkable seven billion years. This makes it about twice as old as Earth and possibly the oldest comet ever observed.
Its unique age and origin make it a prime candidate for close study. This provides a brief window to examine the chemical fingerprint of an alien planetary system before it disappears into interstellar space.
According to a report bbc sky at night magazineIt was discovered by NASA’s Neal Gehrels Swift Observatory itself, operated in collaboration with Auburn University in Alabama. The facility picked up the faint ultraviolet signal emanating from the comet. This glow is due to the presence of hydroxyl (OH) gas, which is formed when sunlight breaks water molecules.
This ultraviolet signature, which is invisible to ground-based observatories, was captured by Swift’s space-based instruments. The discovery confirms the first chemical evidence of water activity on an interstellar comet at this great distance from the Sun.
The results are published in a new study that astronomers say will influence future models of comet evolution and planet formation across the Milky Way. Importantly, the detection of water on 3I/ATLAS – or its indirect signature – suggests that planet-forming systems other than ours may have similar chemical compositions.
According to lead researcher Dr. Zexi Xing, “Every interstellar comet discovered so far has been a surprise.”
“Every interstellar comet we’ve observed has rewritten the rules,” said study co-author Professor Dennis Bodewitz. “‘Oumuamua was dry, Borisov was carbon monoxide-rich, and now Atlas is revealing water in conditions where we didn’t expect it.”
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