Astronomers have uncovered astonishing secrets about C/2014 UN271 (Bernardinelli-Bernstein), the largest and most remote active comet ever detected from the Oort Cloud!

Using the state-of-the-art Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, researchers captured unprecedented molecular activity from this colossal comet, which lies an incredible 16.6 times farther from the Sun than Earth—well past Neptune!

At an impressive 85 miles (140 km) wide, C/2014 UN271 dwarfs most known comets by more than 10 times! Despite its vast distance, scientists are finally unveiling its icy mysteries, thanks to detailed observations that have revealed dynamic jets of carbon monoxide erupting from the comet's icy core.

Lead author Nathan Roth from American University and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center remarked, "These measurements give us a stop-and-stare at how this massive, icy world operates! We're witnessing explosive outgassing patterns that spark new questions about its evolution as it journeys toward the inner solar system."

By detecting light from carbon monoxide and thermal emissions, ALMA offered an extraordinary glimpse into this remote celestial body, successfully targeting incredibly faint signals from such a distant object.

Building on earlier studies that revealed UN271’s enormous nucleus, the latest findings yielded insights into its size and the mystery dust enveloping it. These results align with previous observations, solidifying its title as the largest comet from the Oort Cloud ever discovered!

This groundbreaking discovery not only highlights the first detection of molecular outgassing in this monumental comet but also serves as a unique window into the chemistry and dynamics of these enigmatic objects that originate from the fringes of our solar system.

As C/2014 UN271 edges closer to the Sun, scientists eagerly await more frosty gases to vaporize, unlocking further secrets about its ancient composition and providing clues to the origins of Earth’s water and life-friendly environments elsewhere in the cosmos!