NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has made a groundbreaking discovery, capturing rare images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. This is only the third time such an object has been detected, making it a significant event in the field of astronomy. The findings, based on observations from January 2026, have revealed fascinating new information about this distant comet and its behavior. Scientists believe that studying 3I/ATLAS could hold the key to unlocking secrets about the composition and evolution of planetary systems beyond our own Milky Way.
TESS is a space telescope that was launched by NASA in April 2018 to search for exoplanets – planets that orbit stars other than our Sun. It uses the transit method, which detects dips in a star’s brightness caused by a planet passing in front of it. In addition to its main mission of finding exoplanets, TESS has also been observing other objects in the sky, including comets.
On January 13th, 2026, TESS captured images of comet 3I/ATLAS, which was first discovered in December 2019 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Hawaii. This comet is believed to have originated from the Oort cloud, a region of icy objects surrounding our solar system. However, unlike most comets that originate from the Oort cloud, 3I/ATLAS is not gravitationally bound to the Sun and is instead on a hyperbolic orbit, meaning it will only pass through our solar system once before continuing on its journey into interstellar space.
Through its observations, TESS has revealed that 3I/ATLAS rotates every 15 hours and produces sunlight-driven jets, similar to comets in our own Solar System. These jets are streams of dust and gas that are released from the comet’s surface as it heats up from the Sun’s radiation. This behavior is essential for understanding the composition and evolution of 3I/ATLAS and other objects in the distant reaches of our galaxy.
The discovery of 3I/ATLAS is particularly exciting because it is only the third interstellar object ever detected in our solar system. The first was ‘Oumuamua, a cigar-shaped asteroid that passed through our solar system in 2017, and the second was comet 2I/Borisov, which was discovered in 2019. However, 3I/ATLAS is the first of these objects to exhibit properties similar to comets in our own Solar System.
Dr. Tony Farnsworth, a lead scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and a co-author of the study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, says, “Studying interstellar objects like 3I/ATLAS can give us a glimpse into the diversity of planetary systems in our galaxy and beyond. These objects hold valuable information about the conditions in which they formed and the processes that shaped them.”
One of the most exciting aspects of studying 3I/ATLAS is the potential it holds for understanding distant planetary systems. By studying the composition and behavior of this comet, scientists can gain insights into how these systems form and evolve. This is crucial for understanding the broader picture of the universe and our place in it.
Moreover, the discovery of 3I/ATLAS has opened up new possibilities for future studies. Dr. Farnsworth adds, “With the advancement of technology, we are now able to detect and observe interstellar objects like never before. This opens up a whole new field of research and provides us with the opportunity to study these objects in much more detail.”
This is just the beginning of our exploration of interstellar objects. As technology and techniques improve, we can expect to discover more of these objects and gather even more valuable information. By studying interstellar comets like 3I/ATLAS, we can expand our understanding of the universe and uncover new insights into the formation and evolution of planetary systems.
The discovery of 3I/ATLAS is another testament to the incredible capabilities of TESS and the dedication and perseverance of NASA’s scientists and engineers. It is a significant achievement and a crucial step towards unraveling the mysteries of the universe. With each new discovery, we get closer to answering some of the most profound questions about our existence and our place in the vastness of space.
In conclusion, the rare images captured by TESS
