James Webb Detects Methane on an Interstellar Visitor for the First Time — and It Looks Nothing Like Our Solar System
Researchers said Webb found methane on 3I/ATLAS, the first detection of that gas on an interstellar object, alongside unusually high carbon dioxide and methanol.
3 Articles
3 Articles
James Webb detects methane on an interstellar visitor for the first time — and it looks nothing like our Solar System
A strange comet from another star system has given scientists a first-of-its-kind chemical clue. The James Webb Space Telescope captured an image of a comet that was nearly 277 miles from Earth and directly detected it having methane, a first for an interstellar object. The comet, named 3I/ATLAS, was found to be about 1.6 miles long, and its gas mix suggests that it formed in conditions unlike those found anywhere in our solar system, per Sci.N…
Comet 3I/ATLAS has methane, unexpected discovery reveals
View larger/ full image. | This image of Comet 3I/ATLAS shows the interstellar comet shining against a background of stars. The European Space Agency’s JUICE spacecraft obtained this image and other data on November 6, 2025. New analysis of data from the James Webb Space Telescope shows that Comet 3I/ATLAS has methane, and a lot of it. Image via ESA/ Juice/ JANUS. Comet 3I/ATLAS is the 3rd known interstellar object to enter our solar system. We…
A curious coincidence marks the beginning of the story of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS: it was photographed by an observatory in the test phase more than a week before its detection...
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 100% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
