ATLAS Detects 3rd Interstellar Object, Possibly 7.6 Billion Years Old
Updated
Updated · spacedaily.com · Jun 26
ATLAS Detects 3rd Interstellar Object, Possibly 7.6 Billion Years Old
3 articles · Updated · spacedaily.com · Jun 26
Summary
ATLAS first spotted 3I/ATLAS from Chile on July 1, 2025, identifying only the third confirmed interstellar object ever seen passing through the Solar System.
Its orbit proved decisive: 3I/ATLAS follows an unbound hyperbolic path, meaning it came from interstellar space and will not return after crossing the planetary region.
Archived detections from June 14, 2025, gathered from three ATLAS telescopes and the Zwicky Transient Facility, extended its track and helped confirm its nature.
A 2025 model cited in the report estimates the object could be more than 7.6 billion years old—well above the Solar System's roughly 4.6 billion years—though that age is inferred from motion, not directly measured.
The find highlights how planetary-defence surveys such as ATLAS can double as discovery engines, catching rare visitors that broader sky-monitoring networks can then study with assets including Hubble and Webb.
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3I/ATLAS: Insights from the Solar System’s Third Confirmed Interstellar Object
Overview
Before 2017, no interstellar objects had been observed passing through our Solar System. This changed with the discoveries of 1I/’Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019. In July 2025, 3I/ATLAS was discovered by the ATLAS system, becoming the third confirmed interstellar visitor. Its arrival offered scientists a rare chance to study material from beyond our star system. As 3I/ATLAS journeyed closer to the Sun, it became a major focus for astronomical observation, allowing researchers to gather valuable data and deepen our understanding of objects originating from other parts of the galaxy.