Will 3I/Atlas be the first interstellar object ever observed? An alien spacecraft or just a comet? What’s NASA’s verdict on 3I/Atlas?
Here’s a summary of all the current information, from conspiracy theories to official NASA reports.
What’s actually true, and what’s a myth when it comes to 3I/Atlas?
Since the first observations of this interstellar object, various theories have emerged about its origin and its purpose within our solar system.
Has it decelerated or stopped?
If you’re a space enthusiast, you’ve probably seen the movie Interstellar. Do you remember how they used the planets’ orbital motion to propel their spacecraft and save fuel? Interestingly, 3I/Atlas follows a trajectory that seems to take advantage of a similar pattern, passing near Mars, Venus, and Jupiter.
But can we really say that? No, the orbital motion of the planets actually moves in the opposite direction of the comet’s path. So if the proximity were close enough to affect the comet’s speed, it would actually slow it down rather than accelerate it.
Light changing
Some people claim to have observed flashing or changing lights on the object, sparking widespread excitement about a possible visit from an alien civilization. But scientists have debunked these myths, such fluctuations in brightness are common in comets.
Is green light normal for comets?
Another thing that has fascinated space enthusiasts is the green glow emitted by 3I/Atlas. This color is typical of comets and is mainly caused by the presence of dicarbon (C₂). Besides green, comets can also appear blue, white, or yellow depending on their composition.
What does the name 3I/Atlas mean?
The “3” stands for it being the third object observed that originated outside our solar system, and the “I” stands for interstellar, since it came from beyond the solar system.Which were the other two interstellar objects that preceded 3I/Atlas?
The first was ʻOumuamua in 2017, and the second was 2I/Borisov in 2019.Will 3I/Atlas collide with Earth?
No, its trajectory will bring it no closer than about 270 million kilometers from our planet.How was it determined that it came from outside the solar system?
Thanks to its hyperbolic trajectory, which originates from the direction of the constellation Sagittarius.Did you know that you can track the path of 3I/Atlas in real time on NASA’s official website?
Its speed is so high that it isn’t bound by the Sun’s gravitational pull and it doesn’t move close to it either. It travels at 61 kilometers per second, and as it gets nearer to the Sun, its speed will increase even more.
Why not take advantage of its proximity to Earth to land on it and study it directly?
Because it’s moving far too fast for a landing, that’s why scientists have chosen to observe it using telescopes instead.Even though landing on 3I/Atlas isn’t possible, the European Space Agency (ESA) has planned a mission for 2029 called Comet Interceptor, which aims to visit another interstellar comet. Interestingly, it will be the first space mission ever to visit such an object.
The first observation of 3I/Atlas took place on July 1, 2025, thanks to a telescope in Chile.
How big is it approximately?
Its diameter is estimated to be between 440 meters and 5.6 kilometers.So what is 3I/Atlas?
It’s definitely not an alien spaceship. This object is a comet. It’s active, has a solid frozen core, and a glowing cloud of gas known as a coma.Where is 3I/Atlas now?
You can see the current position of this comet in the NASA official website.📚 Data source:
https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/comets/3i-atlas/
https://www.dineroenimagen.com/actualidad/cometa-3i-atlas-teorias-detras-nave-nodriza-amenaza-tierra
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Comet_3I_ATLAS_frequently_asked_questions
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Comet_Interceptor
https://observandoeluniverso.es/colores-de-un-cometa-del-universo/
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