Scientists warn that comet 3I/ATLAS has shrunk as it approaches Earth
Since it was reported in July paper airplane Interstellar 3I/Atlas, for him strange features, It keeps scientists in suspense.
Recently, several media outlets reported that the object was On bailAfter passing the closest point to the sun a few days ago.
Since the latest ATLAS images do not show the typical consequences involved in a comet’s reduced size, this has strengthened the theory that it is an object. Alien.
Meanwhile, scientists and fans are eagerly awaiting the phenomenon’s passage close to our planet, which will happen in a few weeks.
Shrinkage of Comet 3I/ATLAS: natural behavior or extraterrestrial sign?
According to press reports, the culprit 3I/Atlas he It shrunk Suddenly a 13% After its approach to the sun in the last week of October.
What is striking is that specialists still do not know with certainty the cause of the contraction. They will be disoriented due to the loss of part of their body mass Without forming a waiting listWhich usually happens when a phenomenon like this is minimized.
ATLAS contraction could have occurred without forming a tail. Illustration: ArchiveThe alleged behavior fueled the Harvard professor’s theory Avi Loebwho has long maintained that he could not be guilty but guilty Extraterrestrial phenomenon
Loeb stated that the dip is directly related to the sudden change in the object’s path as it approaches the Sun, but it is unusual for it not to form a tail.
“For a typical comet, this (contraction) should have resulted in a huge tail of dust and gas…pointing away from the sun,” he explained. Daily MailHe added, “In the new photos from November 5, 2025 No tail seen Of this kind.”
Additionally, Loeb noted that ATLAS has not changed much compared to the image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in July, which he says adds to the mystery.
This scientist, who is also the director of the Galileo project, which aims to search for signs of extraterrestrial technology, believes that this phenomenon represents at least Ten marks It could be an artificial spacecraft.
Among them, he found that the being, in its beginnings, had “Anti-cola“, that is, the tail points towards the sun instead of away from it, which is unusual in ordinary comets.
It is also striking that there is discolor Several times during its journey through the solar system, it even turned blue as it approached the largest star, something previous comets had not done. Comets generally turn red when heated because they reflect red light, just as a piece of metal turns red when heated.
Comet 3I/ATLAS had a reddish color. Image: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)Loeb has gone so far as to claim that it may be an alien mother ship disguised as a space rock. However, NASA rejects this hypothesis He confirms that he is a natural comet.
Meanwhile, experts and amateurs who follow the body are waiting for it to reach its peak. The closest point to our planet, Well, this will be the moment when you will be able to study it best.
When will comet 3I/ATLAS approach Earth?
he 3I/AtlasIt was first reported on July 1, 2025, and is the third known interstellar object (hence the name “3” I), following the discovery of 1I/Oumuamua, in 2017, and 2I/Borisov, in 2019.
However, this comet has a series of characteristics, such as very high speed and enormous size, that turn it into a different type from its predecessors. Therefore, the astronomical community awaits the day when it reaches its closest point to Earth.
video
What happens with 3I/ATLAS? NASA has activated the Planetary Defense Protocol against the comet
According to what NASA reported, this will happen when it is placed at a distance of 1.8 astronomical units (approximately). 270 million kilometers) in relation to our planet.
According to the organization, the event will occur in December 2025, and despite alarming theories, it will not represent a threat to Earth, because the object will pass completely away from it.
Recently, European Space Agency He went further and determined the exact date when the comet would reach this point: the next December 19.
Although this phenomenon cannot be seen with the human eye, this will be the period during which specialized teams will be able to clearly observe it. Scientists hope that the object’s proximity will allow us to clearly visualize the characteristics that make it different from other comets recorded in the past.