A newly discovered interstellar object, 3I/ATLAS, is capturing global attention as it races through our solar system. First spotted on July 1, 2025, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in Chile, it marks only the third known interstellar visitor after 1I/ʻOumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019).
According to NASA, the object will reach its closest point to the Sun, about 1.4 astronomical units, in late October 2025, before safely passing Earth at a distance of about 1.8 AU. Its hyperbolic orbit confirms that 3I/ATLAS is not bound to the Sun and will eventually leave our solar system forever.
Early observations have revealed an unusual chemical makeup. Data from the James Webb Space Telescope show strong emissions of carbon dioxide gas relative to water ice, hinting that the object may have formed far from its home star’s frost line.
Harvard Astrophysicist Avi Loeb Calls for an Open-Minded Approach
Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has drawn attention for suggesting that 3I/ATLAS might be more than just another comet. In a recent essay, Loeb noted that the object’s orbit lies unusually close to the plane of the planets — yet moves in a retrograde direction, opposite their motion — a configuration he describes as having “less than one in 500” odds of occurring by chance.
Loeb has urged the scientific community to keep an open mind, even considering whether 3I/ATLAS could be of artificial origin, or at least worthy of an intercept mission for closer study. “We should collect as much data as possible before ruling anything out,” he wrote.
Michio Kaku Urges Caution but Admits Mystery Remains
Theoretical physicist Michio Kaku agrees that 3I/ATLAS presents intriguing anomalies but remains skeptical of alien theories. He notes that the object’s composition — including a reported high nickel content — could simply reflect billions of years of exposure to cosmic radiation.
“While the odds of it being artificial are non-zero, they are still extremely small,” Kaku said in an interview. “But NASA and other agencies should release all available data. Secrecy only fuels unnecessary speculation.”
Astronomers worldwide are racing to observe 3I/ATLAS before it disappears back into interstellar space. These rare visitors provide valuable insight into the composition of other planetary systems — effectively, natural samples from beyond our own.
Atharva Prasad Khalkar, Innovation & Research Correspondent SPS SCHOOL ,
Rahata Shirdi. AhilyaNagar.