Possible Signs of an Alien Spacecraft Detected in Interstellar Object

3I/ATLAS, an interstellar object roughly the size of Manhattan, has displayed unusual acceleration that isn’t solely attributable to gravitational forces. As it passed near the Sun, it appeared to be “bluer than the Sun,” leading some experts to speculate about the possibility of it being an alien spacecraft.

Nasa has recorded this non-gravitational acceleration, which is typically linked to significant outgassing in comets. Under normal circumstances, such outgassing would reduce the object’s mass by about half, and we would expect to see debris flowing away from it in the next few months.

In a recent paper, Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb suggested that the object’s unusual behavior, along with its vibrant color, might indicate it is a man-made craft. He noted, “Alternatively, non-gravitational acceleration may be a technical feature of the internal engine.” This could also help explain the reports of 3I/ATLAS being “bluer than the Sun.”

Loeb proposed that the color change could be due to hot engines or artificial light sources, though he also acknowledged that it might just be a characteristic of the comet itself.

Despite some telescopes being unable to track the object from a distance of 172 million miles from the Sun, there are reports from multiple spacecraft that have measured a “rapid brightening” of 3I/ATLAS, suggesting it has indeed appeared “noticeably bluer than the Sun.” This information comes from a paper by the US Naval Research Institute.

Loeb expressed his surprise at the object’s color shift, which seems to contradict earlier observations indicating the object was red before transitioning to green. 3I/ATLAS is anticipated to come closest to Earth on December 19, at a distance of around 167 million miles, presenting a unique opportunity for scientists to ascertain whether it is genuinely a comet or potentially a man-made object.