Overview
- Solar observatories STEREO, SOHO and GOES-19 documented a rapid perihelion brightening and a distinctly blue appearance, with NASA noting measurable non‑gravitational acceleration.
- The object has begun returning to Earth’s view, with Qicheng Zhang and Lowell Observatory reporting successful pre‑dawn detections using small and mid‑sized telescopes.
- ESA confirms a safe December 19 close approach at roughly 167–170 million miles, and NASA reiterates there is no threat to Earth.
- ESA’s JUICE is scheduled for November observations, and researchers as well as a U.S. lawmaker are pressing NASA to release Mars‑orbiter imagery and other high‑resolution measurements.
- Most astronomers point to natural outgassing and composition to explain the signals, while a minority hypothesis advanced by Avi Loeb suggests a technological source that upcoming observations could test by checking for a massive gas coma.