The Digital Press

NASA has announced the discovery of comet 3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar object passing through our solar system, originating from outside the Sun’s gravitational influence.

Why it matters: 3I/ATLAS offers rare insight into material from another star system, helping astronomers study the galaxy beyond our solar neighborhood.

Stunning stat: The comet travels at about 137,000 miles per hour and will pass no closer than 1.8 astronomical units from Earth.

The big picture: This is the third interstellar object discovered, following ‘Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019, expanding knowledge of interstellar visitors.

Commenters say: Many express excitement about studying an object from another star system, with curiosity about its composition and origin.