Heavy hydrogen in 3I/ATLAS's methane points to a frigid birthplace - Phys.org
science 2026/11/01 15:20:02

Heavy hydrogen in 3I/ATLAS's methane points to a frigid birthplace - Phys.org

Source:Phys.Org
Author:Andrew Zinin

The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS carries a chemical clue to conditions in the planetary system of its origin, locked away long before it reached our sun. Its methane signature is unusually rich in heavy hydrogen, suggesting that the comet’s frozen ingredients …