Overview
- Following its December 19 flyby at roughly 167–170 million miles, observations reinforced broad agreement that 3I/ATLAS is a natural interstellar comet.
- Radio data from ALMA identified methanol and hydrogen cyanide in the coma, with JWST-based mass-loss estimates underpinning the new dispersion assessments.
- Avi Loeb, who previously entertained artificial-origin scenarios, now says the object is “most likely natural,” noting lingering anomalies such as a sunward jet and an anti-tail.
- Risk analyses indicate gas would be swept away by solar wind, sub-micrometer dust by radiation pressure, and larger debris would burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, leaving negligible hazard.
- Researchers are preparing for a closer look during a projected March 16, 2026 approach to Jupiter at about 33.3 million miles, potentially using spacecraft positioned there.