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3i/Atlas in the statement
3i/atlas was first observed in July 2025 by a telescope in Chile that is part of NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). The telescope initially detected what appeared to be an unknown asteroid. The discovery was reported to the Minor Planet Center.
Follow-up observations confirmed the object was a comet, later named 3I/ATLAS. Scientists established that it had interstellar origins, making it the third known object to enter the solar system from beyond.
3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet or Alien Spacecraft?
NASA estimates that 3I/ATLAS is more than 12 miles wide. It is traveling at 37 miles per second relative to the Sun. On October 30, 2025, it will come within about 130 million miles of Earth.
Most scientists agree that 3I/ATLAS has the features of a typical icy comet. These include a trajectory and speed consistent with other known interstellar objects.
Harvard Astrophysicist Avi Loeb Proposes Alien Technology Theory
Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb and two other researchers recently released a paper suggesting an alternate possibility. Published on July 16, 2025, on the preprint server arXiv, the paper questions whether 3I/ATLAS could be alien technology.Loeb is known for encouraging scientists to consider extraterrestrial explanations. He co-founded the Galileo Project, which focuses on scientifically searching for alien artifacts.
In a blog post, Loeb described the paper as a “pedagogical exercise.” He explained that it explores the unusual trajectory of the object and does not claim a definitive conclusion. He also noted that the hypothesis suggests that intelligent civilizations might avoid detection to protect themselves from cosmic threats.
3I/ATLAS Interstellar Comet or Alien Spacecraft? Scientific Community Responds with Skepticism
Many experts have dismissed the theory. Chris Lintott, an Oxford University astronomer involved in tracing 3I/ATLAS’s origin, called the alien theory “nonsense” in a statement to Live Science. He emphasized that it distracts from ongoing research.
Loeb himself admitted that the object is most likely a natural comet. However, he believes that exploring different possibilities can lead to scientific discovery.
Avi Loeb’s Previous Claims About Interstellar Objects
This is not the first time Loeb has made such claims. In 2017, he suggested that the interstellar object Oumuamua could be alien technology. The object had a strange shape and accelerated near the Sun. Loeb proposed that it moved like a light sail, a method that could be used by intelligent beings.
In 2023, Loeb recovered fragments from a meteor labeled IM1 that struck Earth in 2014. He claimed the metallic spherules found off Papua New Guinea were interstellar and unmatched by known solar system alloys. The origin—natural or artificial—remains unclear.
Interstellar Visitors in Past
Before 3I/ATLAS, only two other interstellar objects had been confirmed. Oumuamua was detected in 2017. Comet Borisov passed through in 2019. Both sparked discussions among scientists about what they could tell us about other star systems.
FAQs
What is 3I/ATLAS and why is it important?
3I/ATLAS is an interstellar comet observed in 2025. It is only the third known object to enter our solar system from beyond, raising questions about cosmic activity.
Did scientists confirm 3I/ATLAS is an alien spacecraft?
No. Most scientists believe it is a comet. One theory by Avi counts explores the idea of alien origin but is not backed by evidence or peer-reviewed.
