Overview
- The interstellar object reaches closest approach to the Sun on October 29–30 at roughly 1.4 AU, with Earth-based viewing largely paused until it reappears from behind the Sun, expected by early December.
- The Minor Planet Centre and International Asteroid Warning Network will run a global, structured observation campaign from November 27 to January 27 to refine astrometry and sample composition.
- Reported oddities include a transient sunward anti-tail that later pointed away from the Sun, CO2‑rich outgassing, elevated nickel signals and low water content, which most scientists interpret as unusual yet cometary behavior.
- Harvard’s Avi Loeb and physicist Michio Kaku have floated speculative ideas such as braking thrust or an energy boost at perihelion, claims that remain unproven and are disputed by mainstream researchers.
- Spacecraft and major observatories are lining up follow-ups, including ESA’s JUICE in early November and JWST observations in December, while NASA says the object poses no danger and will pass Earth safely around December 19 at about 1.8 AU.