3I/ATLAS: Webb's Mid-Infrared Fingerprint Reveals Methane-Rich, Cold-Formation Signatures in an Interstellar Visitor

To the point

3I/ATLAS, the third confirmed interstellar visitor, shows a methane-rich coma with water and carbon dioxide and methane concentrated near the nucleus, indicating it formed far out in a cold region of its home protoplanetary disk, a conclusion reported by Matthew Belyakov and Ian Wong from Webb's MIRI observations.

Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: Webb Detects Methane in First Alien Star System Chemical Fingerprint
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Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: Webb Detects Methane in First Alien Star System Chemical Fingerprint

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS has delivered the first mid-infrared chemical fingerprint from another star system, with NASA’s Webb telescope confirming methane for the first time on any extrasolar visitor. Caltech researchers found molecular ratios that far exceed solar system norms, pointing to a