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4w ago

NASA Declares Interstellar Visitor 3I/ATLAS a Natural Comet, Not Alien Spacecraft

NASA labels alien spacecraft theory “poco probable” after confirming 3I/ATLAS displays coma, tail and spectral composition typical of a comet

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La mayoría de la comunidad astronómica mantiene una posición firme: no hay evidencia sólida que respalde la idea de que 3I/ATLAS sea algo más que un cometa. Foto: Gemini Observatory
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Overview

  • The ATLAS survey telescope in Chile first detected 3I/ATLAS on July 1, measuring its speed at 217,000 km/h and confirming it as the third known interstellar object.
  • Recent observations with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and ESA telescopes have pegged its diameter at roughly 11 kilometers, making it the largest interstellar object recorded.
  • Spectral analysis and imaging of a surrounding coma and dust tail align with expectations for a natural comet, prompting NASA to deem an artificial origin highly unlikely.
  • 3I/ATLAS will reach perihelion about 209 million kilometers from the Sun on October 30, 2025, inside Mars’s orbit with no risk of Earth impact.
  • Astronomers worldwide continue to track the object’s path and refine its composition profile as speculative theories of alien technology remain unsubstantiated.