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11h ago

Perihelion Data Show Non-Gravitational Push on 3I/ATLAS, Prompting New Scrutiny

Agencies say the interstellar visitor poses no threat to Earth.

(FILES) This file handout image released by the European Southern Observatory on November 20, 2017 shows an artist's impression of the first interstellar asteroid, called Oumuamua. - When the first object ever known to have visited our Solar System from outer space zoomed past in 2017, it was so strange that at least no leading astronomer was convinced the most logical explanation was that it was alien technology, however researchers said on March 22, 2023 they have come up with a simple and "compelling non-alien explanation" for the interstellar interloper's bizzare behaviour -- though not all were convinced. (Photo by M. Kornmesser / European Southern Observatory / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY / M. Kornmesser" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
El cometa 3I/Atlas, un objeto proveniente del espacio interestelar, alcanzará su punto más cercano a la Tierra (Imagen ilustrativa Pixabay)
Cometa interestelar 3I/ATLAS realiza maniobra inusual rumbo al Sol; científico de Harvard sugiere posible origen extraterrestre
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Overview

  • Observers report a measurable trajectory change and transverse acceleration during the Oct. 29–30 perihelion, along with rapid mass loss, an anti-tail, and a shift to bright blue hues.
  • Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb cites JPL tracking as evidence of non-gravitational acceleration and floats a technological-origin hypothesis that most researchers reject.
  • NASA and ESA say no anomalous signals have been detected and maintain the behavior can be explained by natural cometary outgassing.
  • The coordinated observing campaign continues under a narrowing window after solar glare limited peak measurements, with closest approach set for Dec. 19 at about 267 million km.
  • Public updates from NASA have been constrained during a U.S. funding lapse, while ESA and Roscosmos’ ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter continue contributing observations.