Scientists have found that the interstellar comet named 2I/Borisov is surprisingly unique in its composition, providing a new clue about where it originated.

Researchers said the gas coming off 2I/Borisov contains high amounts of carbon monoxide, indicating that this space rock has a large concentration of carbon monoxide ice.

The carbon monoxide levels are also far greater than what are often found in local comets. In fact, the data pointed it to being between nine and 26 times higher than in the average comet in our solar system, according to a statement from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

Carbon monoxide, which is poisonous to humans, is relatively common as a gas in space. It comes in ice form only in the most frigid locations. With the detection of so much carbon monoxide, researchers suggested that 2I/Borisov could have formed in a cold outer region of its home star system or around a star that is markedly cooler than our sun.

“We like to refer to 2I/Borisov as a snowman from a dark and cold place,” said Auburn University planetary scientist Dennis Bodewits, who is the lead author of one of two 2I/Borisov studies published in the journal Nature Astronomy, according to Reuters.

“Comets are leftover building blocks from the time of planet formation. For the first time, we have been able to measure the chemical composition of such a building block from another planetary system while it flew through our own solar system.”

Studying the origins of 2I/Borisov is also offering important clues regarding other interstellar objects and planetary systems.

“2I/Borisov gave us the first glimpse into the chemistry that shaped another planetary system,” Stefanie Milam, of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, said in a statement.

Scientists are hopeful to catch a glimpse of another interstellar comet in the near future, which can be used to compare data.

“Only when we can compare the object to other interstellar comets will we learn whether 2I/Borisov is a special case, or if every interstellar object has unusually high levels of carbon monoxide,” Milam said.

2I/Borisov, estimated to be about 1-kilometer wide, is only the second interstellar object – following the cigar-shaped ‘Oumuamua in 2017 – ever to be detected passing through our solar system. Like ‘Oumuamua, the comet was likely ejected from its original star system.

Amateur astronomer Gennady Borisov first discovered the comet on Aug. 30, 2019.

Ethen Kim Lieser is a Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek and Arirang TV. He currently resides in Minneapolis.