Alien object 3I/ATLAS will approach the Earth any day now.: what is it and is it dangerous?

The 3I/ATLAS interstellar object, which a number of scientists consider to be potentially technological and likely to pose a threat to humanity, is rapidly approaching Earth, causing a new round of discussions about its origin and properties. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

The Origin of 3I/ATLAS: An interstellar past and a unique trajectory

Comet 3I/ATLAS was discovered in July 2025. It is moving towards Earth at high speed and on an atypical trajectory. Because of its strange behavior, Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb even suggested that the object could be a UFO. In early December, new observations appeared: scientists reported that 3I/ATLAS destroys layer by layer, has perfectly formed rings and seems to "breathe", periodically releasing matter.

In turn, astronomer and space popularizer Alexander Kiselyov explained that the effect of the "heartbeat" of comet 3I/ATLAS approaching the Earth is caused by the rotation of the comet and the regular loss of mass through several gas jets recorded by NASA. When approaching the Sun, some parts of the core heat up and sublimate, especially if they contain volatile substances. The released gas forms directional jets that occur unevenly, which affects the movement of the comet.

And its trajectory suggests that on December 19, 2025, it will pass at a minimum distance from Earth — about 273 million km. Despite the considerable distance, experts are interested in the correlation of the object's motion with the orbits of the planets, which is difficult to explain by coincidence. Astronomers emphasize the special precision with which 3I/ATLAS will approach Venus, Mars and Jupiter.

So, Avi Loeb notes that the moment of perihelion and the angle of observation look unusually consistent. He recalled that the probability that the object will be inaccessible for observation at the moment of maximum approach to the Sun is only 0.005 percent. The scientist emphasizes that such accuracy could be the result of a well-thought-out calculation if the object had a technological nature. Considering all the factors, he concludes that in this case, the presence of 3I/ATLAS in the Solar System cannot be considered safe.

A version about the technological origin of comet 3I/ATLAS

The scientific community is ambivalent about the assumption of the technological origin of the object, but Avi Loeb consistently develops this hypothesis. He notes that some of the 3I/ATLAS parameters resemble the behavior of a controlled structure. For example, an object exhibits a peculiar "pulse" — rhythmic fluctuations that may be associated with an internal structure. The scientist points out that such fluctuations are unusual for ordinary comets and can be considered an additional argument in favor of artificial origin.

Loeb also admits that such interstellar objects could serve as a tool for spreading life in the Galaxy. He recalls that in the history of the Earth, there could be millions of collisions with space debris capable of carrying living organisms. According to him, if at least one of these fragments ever carried biological material resistant to long-term interstellar travel, this could affect the development of the Earth's biosphere. The scientist emphasizes that many stars formed a billion years before the Sun, which means that more ancient civilizations had enough time for such missions.

NASA observations: what the Hubble Telescope images show

Hubble Space Telescope images taken on November 30 provided a more detailed image of the object. At the time of the observation, the comet was located at a distance of 286 million km from Earth. Experts note that the object has become brighter and more noticeable, but it has not yet been possible to see fundamentally new features. The Wide Field Camera 3 recorded it in the visible and ultraviolet range, tracking its movement across the celestial sphere.

Despite the improved detail, scientists emphasize that due to the distance, it is impossible to definitively determine the shape of the tail or the features of the antelope. Nevertheless, it is interesting that the anti-tail is directed towards the Sun and reaches a length of more than 60 thousand kilometers. According to Loeb's observations, the direction of the anti-tail changed after perihelion, which currently has no clear explanation within the framework of standard models of comet behavior.

Physical properties and age of an interstellar comet

The uniqueness of the object is emphasized by its age, which researchers estimate at more than 7 billion years — much older than the Solar system. The comet's nucleus is estimated to have a diameter of 440 meters to 5.6 kilometers and is surrounded by a cloud of gas and dust forming a so-called coma. As it approached the Sun, cryovolcanoes became active, releasing icy gases, which makes 3I/ATLAS look like trans-Neptunian objects, including Pluto.

The comet is showing increasing velocity as it approaches perihelion. At the time of detection, it was moving at a speed of about 221 thousand kilometers per hour, and during maximum approach, this value increased to 246 thousand kilometers per hour. Experts attribute the trajectory changes to reactive gas emissions, which form unevenly and affect the movement of the object.

Assessment of a possible threat and the reaction of the scientific community

Astronomers agree that 3I/ATLAS poses no direct danger to Earth. The minimum approach distance does not allow us to consider a collision scenario. However, discussing a potential threat is not about physical risk, but about questions about the nature of the object.

Loeb believes that humanity should pay more attention to the study of such bodies, since they may be associated with the existence of other civilizations. He emphasizes the importance of developing space programs, pointing out that without moving towards interstellar exploration, humanity risks repeating the fate of hypothetical civilizations that could disappear due to internal conflicts or lack of ambition.

Most scientists, however, tend to accept the traditional explanation of the object's behavior and consider it to be an ordinary interstellar comet.

Future observations and the future fate of the object

In late 2025 and early 2026, the comet will be visible through amateur telescopes. The object is expected to pass close to Jupiter in March, after which it will continue moving towards the outer regions of the Solar System. In 2028, 3I/ATLAS will cross the orbit of Neptune and head back into interstellar space, leaving the system.

Scientists emphasize the need for further monitoring, since interstellar objects remain rare visitors to the Solar System, and their study allows us to expand our understanding of the origin of planets, cosmic evolution, and possibly the role of other civilizations in the formation of our galaxy.