Harvard Astronomer Proposes Unconventional Origins for Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS

Astronomers have identified 3I/ATLAS as the third known interstellar object traversing our solar system. While many classify it as a comet, Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb has proposed alternative explanations for its observed luminosity.

Observations from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope revealed a glow ahead of 3I/ATLAS's motion toward the Sun, typically indicative of a comet's coma. However, the absence of a bright tail has led to speculation about the source of this light.

Loeb, in collaboration with Harvard astrophysicist Eric Keto, suggests that the nucleus of 3I/ATLAS might be producing most of the observed light, implying a smaller size than previously estimated. They propose two possibilities: the object could be a fragment from a supernova core rich in radioactive material, or it might be a spacecraft powered by nuclear energy, with dust emitted from its surface accumulated during interstellar travel.

Loeb acknowledges that the supernova fragment hypothesis is highly unlikely and that the spacecraft theory requires more evidence to be considered viable. He has also noted the object's unusual trajectory, including close flybys of Earth and Jupiter, and its lack of a visible tail, which challenge the comet classification.

3I/ATLAS is expected to pass near Mars this fall, providing an opportunity for closer observation. Loeb has suggested utilizing NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to gather data on the object, and reports indicate that the HiRISE team is considering this proposal.