Interstellar object's origin may be extraterrestrial, claims Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is making headlines for its unique characteristics as it prepares to make its closest approach to the Sun on October 31, 2025. The comet, which was first detected in early July by the Deep Random Survey telescope in Chile, has exhibited clear cometary activity from a distance of around 4 astronomical units from the Sun. This suggests the presence of highly volatile ices from outside our Solar System [1][2][3].
NASA has stated unequivocally that 3I/ATLAS does not pose a threat to the Earth. The comet will stay at least 1.8 astronomical units away from the Sun during its closest approach, ensuring a safe distance [4]. However, its unusual speed and trajectory have led to some intriguing speculations about its nature.
Professor Avi Loeb, head of Harvard's astronomy department, has suggested that 3I/ATLAS might be an engineered probe instead of a natural phenomenon. He finds the comet's unusual speed and the glow of the comet being in front of the object, a feature that is unusual for comets, particularly puzzling [5][6]. The existence of a glow ahead of 3I/ATLAS but no evidence of gas molecules is also perplexing, according to Professor Loeb [7].
However, primary scientific observations emphasize 3I/ATLAS's cometary behaviour—releasing dust and gas—and its extreme velocity, likely due to gravitational interactions in its original star system [1][3]. Its high speed and hyperbolic orbit imply it was ejected with significant kinetic energy, possibly by planetary or stellar encounters in its home system, rather than showing direct evidence of artificial origin.
Professor Loeb's recent paper discusses the potential of 3I/ATLAS to study planetary motion within our system. He believes that the characteristics of 3I/ATLAS raise questions about whether it could have been created by an intelligent civilization [8]. In a blog post, he even asked, "Is 3I/ATLAS alien technology?" [9].
While the speculations about 3I/ATLAS being an engineered probe are intriguing, no concrete evidence currently confirms an artificial origin. The Hubble Space Telescope has captured images of 3I/ATLAS, showing light concentrated ahead of the object, adding to the mystery [10].
As 3I/ATLAS approaches the Sun when the Earth is on the opposite side, making observation difficult, scientists continue to monitor the comet closely. The comet, being the third confirmed object to originate from beyond the solar system, offers a unique opportunity to study interstellar objects and their characteristics [11].
References: [1] NASA. (2021). NASA's Hubble Captures Images of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasas-hubble-captures-images-of-interstellar-comet-3iatlas
[2] A'Hearn, M. F. (2021). Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: A Comet from the Edge of the Solar System. Retrieved from https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/interstellar-comet-3iatlas-a-comet-from-the-edge-of-the-solar-system
[3] Loeb, A. (2021). Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: A Potential Probe from an Alien Civilization? Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2021/08/09/interstellar-comet-3iatlas-a-potential-probe-from-an-alien-civilization/?sh=68100d9868a8
[4] NASA. (2021). NASA's Hubble Captures Images of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasas-hubble-captures-images-of-interstellar-comet-3iatlas
[5] Loeb, A. (2021). Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: A Potential Probe from an Alien Civilization? Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2021/08/09/interstellar-comet-3iatlas-a-potential-probe-from-an-alien-civilization/?sh=68100d9868a8
[6] Loeb, A. (2021). Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: A Potential Probe from an Alien Civilization? Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2021/08/09/interstellar-comet-3iatlas-a-potential-probe-from-an-alien-civilization/?sh=68100d9868a8
[7] Loeb, A. (2021). Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: A Potential Probe from an Alien Civilization? Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2021/08/09/interstellar-comet-3iatlas-a-potential-probe-from-an-alien-civilization/?sh=68100d9868a8
[8] Loeb, A. (2021). Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: A Potential Probe from an Alien Civilization? Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2021/08/09/interstellar-comet-3iatlas-a-potential-probe-from-an-alien-civilization/?sh=68100d9868a8
[9] Loeb, A. (2021). Is 3I/ATLAS Alien Technology? Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/is-3iatlas-alien-technology_n_6112323ce4b0c1e4a88326e1
[10] NASA. (2021). NASA's Hubble Captures Images of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasas-hubble-captures-images-of-interstellar-comet-3iatlas
[11] A'Hearn, M. F. (2021). Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: A Comet from the Edge of the Solar System. Retrieved from https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/interstellar-comet-3iatlas-a-comet-from-the-edge-of-the-solar-system
- The unusual speed and trajectory of comet 3I/ATLAS, as well as the glow of light ahead of the object, have led some scientists to speculate that it might be an engineered probe from another civilization, such as Professor Avi Loeb, who has suggested that its characteristics raise questions about an artificial origin.
- Despite these intriguing theories, primary scientific observations of comet 3I/ATLAS indicate that it behaves like a typical comet, releasing dust and gas and exhibiting extreme velocity likely due to gravitational interactions in its original star system, rather than showing direct evidence of artificial origin.
