An interstellar object called 3I/ATLAS has recently been in the spotlight of scientists and the public because of its unusual trajectory and speed. Discovered by NASA’s ATLAS telescope in Chile on July 1, 2025, this object was moving at a speed of about 68 km/sec and passed the closest point to the Sun before moving away from the solar system. Its speed and unusual trajectory make 3I/ATLAS an interesting object of study.
3I/ATLAS is classified as an interstellar comet because it originates from outside our solar system, similar to previous objects: ‘Oumuamua’ (2017) and ‘Borisov’ (2019). This object has a solid core consisting of ice and rock, surrounded by a cloud of gas and dust called a coma.
Uniquely, its orbit is hyperbolic and almost unaffected by the Sun’s gravity, in contrast to the curved or parabolic orbits of ordinary comets.
As it approached the Sun, the color of this comet was also recorded as changing from red to green, then light blue, and finally greenish. NASA explains that the color change is caused by gas emissions from the comet’s nucleus which break down carbon and hydrogen molecules when exposed to sunlight.
Another unique feature is the comet’s acceleration as it passes perihelion, the closest point to the Sun, which cannot be fully explained by gravitational forces. This sparked speculation among scientists.
Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb suggests that some characteristics of 3I/ATLAS may indicate an artificial object. Loeb mentioned seven indications, including a trajectory that is very different from ordinary comets, retrograde motion, non-gravitational acceleration, as well as a spectrum showing high nickel content.
He even estimated a 40% probability that 3I/ATLAS was an alien-made probe, a “Black Swan” event in astronomy.
However, not all scientists agree. Brian Cox and Neil deGrasse Tyson emphasize that speculation about aliens is premature. According to them, this comet is most likely a natural formation from a star system that died billions of years ago. This conservative approach emphasizes the need for concrete evidence before making extraordinary claims.
Despite the controversy, all parties agree that 3I/ATLAS does not harm the Earth. NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) ensure that this comet will remain far from our planet’s path.
The 3I/ATLAS phenomenon not only sparked debate about the possibility of aliens, but also provided a rare opportunity for scientists to study interstellar objects directly. This object broadens insight into the universe while showing how science interacts with speculation and the limits of human knowledge.
Source: Bhaskar English
