NASA is set to unveil much-anticipated images of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, which is about the size of Manhattan, in the next few days, according to officials.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s HiRISE camera captured images of this enigmatic object while it passed close to Mars from October 1 to October 7. However, the release of these images was delayed due to a government shutdown that concluded late Wednesday.
Officials anticipate that the image, which will have the highest resolution of 3I/ATLAS so far, could be available as soon as next week.
Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has suggested that this object might be an alien spacecraft and criticized the delay in releasing the images as indicative of governmental inefficiency. “Science should have come before bureaucracy,” he remarked. “The truth about the nature of 3I/ATLAS will come through data sharing, not gatekeeper narratives.”
The upcoming HiRISE images are expected to provide clearer details than the ones taken by the Hubble Space Telescope on July 21, which currently holds the record for the best image of 3I/ATLAS.
Loeb emphasized that these new images represent a significant opportunity to understand the core of this massive object, revealing insights into its true nature.
Previously, Loeb raised concerns about 3I/ATLAS’s peculiar tail—this unusual feature stretches toward the Sun in a way that’s not typical for comets.
According to him, “HiRISE images will not only deliver spatial resolution three times better than Hubble’s but also provide side views.”
He noted that although the image might not clearly show the solid core, it will help establish size constraints based on the brightest areas seen in the photos, stating, “Seeing is believing.”
Earlier this week, skywatchers were relieved to see 3I/ATLAS emerge from its close approach to the Sun without breaking apart, contrary to earlier worries.
The interstellar object is currently on a path toward Jupiter and will be tracked by NASA’s Juno probe and the European Space Agency’s JUICE spacecraft until it exits the solar system in March.
