A comet named 3I/ATLAS, which is hurtling toward the inner solar system where Earth is located, is much larger than previously thought — likely weighing more than a whopping 33 billion tons, according to astronomers.

Recent astronomical observations and analyses indicate that the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, which is traveling toward the inner solar system, is significantly larger and more massive than initially estimated. Several sources report that Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb and other researchers have suggested the object's mass could exceed 33 billion tons, a figure much higher than earlier estimates. This mass estimate has led to discussions about whether 3I/ATLAS fits the typical profile of a comet or if it might be an unusual or anomalous object.

While the scientific community generally agrees it is a comet, some researchers argue that its size and mass challenge conventional comet classifications. Additionally, the object is producing typical cometary features such as dust and ion tails as it approaches the Sun. The sources also note that 3I/ATLAS is only the third confirmed interstellar object observed entering our solar system, following 'Oumuamua and Borisov.

There is no definitive consensus on all physical characteristics, but the claim about its large mass is well-supported by multiple independent reports.