Posted on 08/04/2025 2:34:18 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A mysterious object moving through the solar system has caught the attention of Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, who believes it could be more than just a comet—and possibly an alien spacecraft. The interstellar body, designated 3I/ATLAS, was first spotted on July 1 and is now under close observation due to its unusual characteristics.
Loeb, known for his provocative theories on extraterrestrial life, says the object’s path raises serious questions. It travels on a rare retrograde orbit, meaning it moves against the solar system’s flow, and aligns closely with the orbital plane of Earth and other inner planets. He estimates the chances of such a natural alignment at just 0.2 percent.
He warns that if the object is artificial, it could carry probes or even hostile technology. Based on current trajectory calculations, 3I/ATLAS is expected to pass behind the sun in October and could potentially approach Earth between November 21 and December 5, 2025.
Loeb warns of a possible threat and timeline “The visitor is already in our backyard,” Loeb said, emphasizing the need to prepare for both peaceful and dangerous scenarios.
Loeb has described the object as a potential “mothership,” capable of deploying smaller devices to investigate or interact with habitable planets. He said this strategy would allow probes to reach targets like Earth while the main craft continues toward another star.
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As part of his response plan, Loeb has published three pre-print research papers and proposed that NASA attempt to intercept it using the Juno spacecraft during the object’s passage near Jupiter. He also called for the creation of an interstellar risk scale ranging from zero for natural comets to ten for confirmed technological artifacts.
To prevent public panic, he argues that governments should form multidisciplinary task forces, including scientists, policymakers, and psychologists, to plan for any eventual disclosure.
Skepticism from other astronomers Not all astronomers support his theory. Chris Lintott, a professor at the University of Oxford, dismissed the alien spacecraft suggestion as “nonsense on stilts.” He told Live Science that such claims undermine serious research into the nature of 3I/ATLAS.
Despite criticism, Loeb remains firm. The object, estimated to be about 12 miles wide, is large for something entering from beyond the solar system. He points out that if this were a natural event, scientists should have detected many similar cases by now—but haven’t.
At its current speed of nearly 60 miles per second relative to Earth, 3I/ATLAS is too fast for any existing spacecraft to intercept. Loeb admits that if it turns out to be artificial, little can be done. Still, he believes the risk justifies a warning.
He compared the situation to Pascal’s wager, noting that it’s safer to prepare for the worst-case scenario, even if the object turns out to be harmless.
That’s it exactly, Frank. He’s loving the attention.
Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, who believes it could be more than just a comet—and possibly an alien spacecraft.
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As an amatuer astrophysicist, I think is more than possibly an alien spacecraft.
Illegal aliens with no driver's licenses. Are we even insured for that?
'the Great Silence'? Devourers?
I think this guy is having a fantasy.
Probably impossible for humans to see, unless it had a perfect back ground.
60 X 60 = 3,600 miles per minute.
3,600 X 60 = 216,000 miles per hour.
Too much weird stuff involved... thanks for sharing...
It’s on a hyperbolic “orbit”. It won’t be coming back; 150,000 mph is way above the solar system’s escape velocity.
If i remember he was tasked to write this as, something of a worst case hypothetical. Even he doesnt really think its an alien ship.
It doesn't make a "very close approach" to Venus; it doesn't even get inside the orbit of Earth! And its "very close approach" to Mars projects to be ~ 18 million miles away. That's not very close.
We are alone...
The thousand year reign of Christ has already occurred. From Constantine until Don John of Austria. The cathedrals show the power that the devotion to Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother had over the European population.
Sounds like this guy escaped from a padded room.
“If it is interstellar the idea of a retrograde approach is meaningless.”
Yeah, that thing is on a trajectory not in an orbit. It should also be possible to establish where it came from
If it’s an interstellar spacecraft, travelng 50MPS, it’s inhabitants would have to be 100,000’s years old.
The Earth travels around the Sun at 18 Miles per second. 60 + 18 = 78
I dunno, I thought an advanced spacecraft would look a little classier.
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