26th October 2025 - (Galicia) A celestial object identified as comet 3I/ATLAS, currently traversing our solar system, has been confirmed by Spanish astronomers to contain material predating the formation of our Sun. Researchers from the University of A Coruña's Centre for Research in Information and Communication Technologies (CITIC) have determined this interstellar visitor originated from a distant stellar system, offering a rare opportunity to study primordial matter from elsewhere in the galaxy.
The comet was first detected on 1st July 2025 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Chile. Its distinct trajectory and composition immediately distinguished it from native solar system objects, marking it as only the third confirmed interstellar visitor after the previously documented 'Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov.
Through sophisticated orbital modelling, the research team reconstructed the comet's path across ten million years. By utilising precise stellar data from the European Space Agency's Gaia mission -- a comprehensive map of the Milky Way -- they successfully traced the object's journey from its point of origin to its current location within our planetary neighbourhood. This detailed backtracking effectively allows scientists to peer into the galactic past.
The scientific community emphasises the unique research potential of such objects. Each interstellar comet acts as a natural time capsule, preserving chemical signatures from its parent system. Analysis of its icy and dusty composition provides direct insight into the building blocks of exoplanets and the conditions under which they form around other stars.
Public assurance has been given regarding the object's trajectory, with astronomers confirming it will approach no closer than 270 million kilometres from Earth. This distance permits secure telescopic observation from terrestrial facilities without any associated impact risk. The comet's continued passage through our solar system offers an extended window for detailed spectroscopic study.