NASA, UN Monitor Third Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS Approaching Sun

The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, first detected in July 2025 and about 5.6 kilometers wide, has sparked global scientific interest and public speculation due to its unusual speed, trajectory, and chemical composition, including the presence of industrially produced nickel tetracarbonyl. Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb suggests that 3I/ATLAS could be an artificially made probe from another civilization, particularly noting its deliberate orbit, a sunward gas jet, and the possibility of an Oberth maneuver during its closest approach to the Sun on October 29, which could facilitate a propulsion event. Despite Loeb's warnings about potential risks, including an alien attack, NASA and other scientists assure that 3I/ATLAS poses no threat to Earth, maintaining that it behaves like a typical comet with a faint coma and dust tail as observed by Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope. The object’s spectral signature shows high carbon dioxide but low water-ice activity, suggesting it formed in a colder, carbon-rich region, and it remains distant enough from Earth to avoid impact. Skepticism about Loeb’s claims exists among his peers, with some dismissing them as unfounded, while others advocate for close monitoring and further study, especially considering the object's solar conjunction obscures direct observation. Overall, 3I/ATLAS continues to be studied intensively as the third confirmed interstellar visitor, with a balance of cautious scientific inquiry and public curiosity about its true nature.