
20/09/2025
The comet 3I/ATLAS has garnered attention for its highly unusual composition. Unlike typical comets, which are dominated by water ice, 3I/ATLAS exhibits a strikingly different profile. Its “coma”—the nebulous envelope surrounding the nucleus—is dominated by carbon dioxide (CO₂) rather than water. This results in an exceptionally high CO₂/H₂O ratio, one of the highest ever recorded in any known comet. Further adding to its mystery, 3I/ATLAS began emitting water and volatile compounds when it was approximately 325 million miles from the Sun. This is a distance where water sublimation is typically minimal.