SAEDNEWS: At a distance three times that between the Earth and the Sun, the interstellar object Atlas is hurling water into space at an astonishing speed of 40 kilograms per second! Previously thought impossible at such distances, scientists say this phenomenon hints at vast hidden water reserves and mysterious secrets deep within the cosmos.
According to the Science and Technology Desk of SaedNews, in the cold, dark reaches of our solar system, the interstellar traveler 3I/ATLAS is ejecting an enormous amount of water into space—at a distance where such a phenomenon was thought nearly impossible. This discovery, which presents scientists with a new cosmic puzzle, could forever change our understanding of the chemical composition of other star systems.
New analyses by scientists, based on data from NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, were conducted in a recent study. Observations made before the comet temporarily disappeared behind the Sun detected strong ultraviolet radiation—a clear signature of hydroxyl gas (OH), a byproduct of water breakdown. According to the findings, this comet is releasing water vapor at a staggering rate of about 40 kilograms per second—roughly equivalent to a high-pressure fire hose.
What makes this even more remarkable is that this activity is occurring at a distance of roughly three astronomical units (three times the distance from Earth to the Sun). Normally, comets must approach much closer to the Sun for its heat to sublimate or directly vaporize their icy cores. The unusual behavior of 3I/ATLAS suggests that either another mechanism is at play or this celestial object harbors immense water reserves.
Dennis Budwitz, a physics professor at Auburn University and one of the study’s authors, said in a press release: “When we detect signs of water—or even its faint ultraviolet echo, OH—in an interstellar comet, we are essentially reading a note from another planetary system. This discovery tells us that the chemical building blocks of life are not limited to our solar system.”
Believed to have originated from the center of the Milky Way and possibly three billion years older than our Sun, the comet ATLAS offers not only a glimpse into an alien star system but also a window into the early universe. Its unusual chemical composition—including a high carbon dioxide-to-water ratio—sets it apart from comets in our solar system. Scientists suggest that sunlight may have warmed icy grains detached from the nucleus, causing them to vaporize.
Currently, the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is hidden behind the Sun, but it is expected to reappear in our skies by late November, offering further opportunities for study.
Zexi Xing, the paper’s lead author, notes the surprises posed by interstellar objects: “Every interstellar comet has delivered an unexpected revelation. ‘Oumuamua was dry, Borisov was rich in carbon monoxide, and now ATLAS is releasing water at a distance we didn’t anticipate. Each of these objects rewrites our understanding of how planets and comets form.”
The study’s results were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
