Harvard Astrophysicist Questions Nature of Interstellar Object 3i/Atlas
Avi Loeb, an astrophysicist from Harvard, has made claims about the interstellar object 3i/Atlas, suggesting that it might emit its own light as it traverses the inner solar system.
Loeb’s observations, if validated, contradict NASA’s classification of these Manhattan-sized entities as comets, as he outlined in a recent blog post.
After analyzing the images released by NASA, Loeb and his team propose that the sun may not be responsible for the object’s apparent glow.
They noted that a bright halo around 3i/Atlas implies that the object’s nucleus is responsible for the observed illumination. In his paper, Loeb stated, “The simplest explanation is that the nucleus of 3i/Atlas generates the majority of the light.”
Loeb indicated that the brightness observed could originate from sources with diameters exceeding 100 meters. This perspective suggests that 3i/Atlas is smaller than previously thought, bringing it in line with the sizes of the other known interstellar objects, Oumuamua and Borisov.
Nasa’s photos, taken by the Hubble Telescope, reveal that while 3i/Atlas glows at its front, it lacks a typical comet tail.
If 3i/Atlas merely reflects light, astrophysicists estimate its size at 12 miles, making that scenario less plausible.
Loeb even speculated that this object’s nucleus could potentially be an artificial construct, possibly a device created by extraterrestrial beings.
He noted, “Natural nuclear sources could be rare remnants from nearby supernovae, rich in radioactive elements, but this possibility seems unlikely given the scarcity of such materials in interstellar space.”
Alternatively, he theorized that 3i/Atlas might be a spacecraft powered by nuclear energy, with dust on its surface resulting from its journey through space. He emphasized that while this cannot be entirely dismissed, more evidence is necessary to support this claim.
Loeb believes that the “fine-tuned trajectory” of 3i/Atlas strengthens his theory. This unusual path could obstruct the view of the object from Earth when it approaches the sun.
Loeb’s suspicions amplify, proposing it could be a reconnaissance mission from intelligent life beyond our planet.
3i/Atlas was initially discovered by the NASA-funded Atlas Survey, utilizing a telescope in Chile on July 1.
Loeb is currently inquiring about using the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to observe 3i/Atlas with its Hirise camera when the object is 17 million miles away in early October. He has also suggested that NASA direct the Juno spacecraft, which is orbiting Jupiter, to investigate the object during its closest approach next spring.
For its part, NASA maintains that 3i/Atlas is simply a comet. Loeb referenced a post from earlier in the year about a new asteroid that was later identified as a Tesla Roadster launched by Elon Musk into space.
