Ever since the comet 3I/Atlas was spotted, it has sparked curiosity—not just from astronomers and physicists, but from anyone who wonders whether there is something otherworldly about the mysterious rock cruising through space.
Can this object truly point towards interstellar visitors?
Observing 3I/Atlas
The interstellar visitor has been confirmed to come from outside our solar system, moving at speeds that are beyond the Sun’s gravity, following a hyperbolic orbit. A hyperbolic orbit differs from a traditional orbit as the object in question is moving beyond the grasp of a gravitational field, resulting in a flyby effect. This already sets it apart as a unique comet, but it does not confirm alien activity.
Evidence suggests that 3I/Atlas is a comet-like object that has a coma—a fuzzy cloud of gas and dust that surrounds it, with a developing tail behind it. An image from the Hubble reveals a fuzzy “snowball” like structure, with its diameter ranging between a few hundred metres and 3.5 miles.
The theory of otherworldly visitors
A small number of researchers theorise that 3I/Atlas may be an alien aircraft, or at least an artefact of alien origin. Professor Abraham Loeb, an Israeli and American theoretical physicist, has closely researched the object. Some of his research points out the anomalies of the comet. For example, the fact that it follows a convenient trajectory to stay bound to the Sun, as well as its apparently unusually large size. Other articles of his research suggest that 3I/Atlas is generating its own light and that it may be nuclear-powered.
Adding fuel to the fire, more recent observations saw the object suddenly change colour from red to green, giving the impression that something was “switched on”.
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By GlobalDataSo, aliens or a comet?
While some argue that 3I/Atlas is of alien origin, others argue that it is nothing more than a comet that will simply pass through our solar system. An article from National Geographic calls the speculation of 3I/Atlas being an alien aircraft “irresponsible”. Cristina Thomas, a planetary astronomer, confidently believes that the object has nothing to do with aliens. Martin Cordiner, an astrochemist, reaffirms this view, stating: “If it is an alien spaceship, it has done a really good job disguising it as a comet.”
The consensus is that the behaviour of 3I/Atlas aligns precisely with what astronomers expect from comets, with no detailed scientific evidence of it being anything more.
The marvel that is 3I/Atlas
Still, 3I/Atlas remains an exciting field of research. It is only the third interstellar object we have observed, giving scientists and researchers the rare chance to study material from beyond the Sun’s neighbourhood. The fact that the object was formed around another star means that its composition is a sample of another planetary system. Astronomers can study the gas it emits and compare it to our existing models to test whether the chemistry of other systems is like our own.
At the end of the day, the true origins of 3I/Atlas are unknown. While science heavily reinforces the fact that it is nothing more than a comet, the bottom line is that we can never be 100% sure.
