‘Massive’ comet hurtling toward us is larger than previously thought, could be alien tech, scientist says: ‘It could change everything for us’

nypost.com ^ | Sep. 29, 2025 | Ben Cost

[V_TWIN]

We’re gonna need a bigger telescope.

Scientists have discovered that the 3I/ATLAS — a Manhattan-sized interstellar object that potentially has alien tech — is much larger than previously thought, according to a new report.

First discovered by NASA on July 1, the cosmic anomaly has been under watch by Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb and his team as it shoots across the solar system. The object, which is believed to be a comet, reportedly has interstellar origins, making it the third ever object from beyond the solar system ever detected after ‘Oumuamua, which was discovered in 2017, and 2I/Borisov in 2019.

Now the team has gleaned some “sizable” new intel on the interstellar visitor, namely that the “mass of 3I/ATLAS must be bigger than 33 billion tons,” per a blog post by Loeb.

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TOPICS: Astronomy; Chit/Chat; Science
KEYWORDS: 100percentnatural; 16tonsandwhatdoyaget; 33billiontons; 3iatlas; anomalouslymassive; arewescrewedorwhat; astronomy; aviloeb; clickbait; comet; comets; couldbealientech; couldbefrozendirt; harvard; hotfudgesundae; jerrynadlerobject; lucifershammer; petervere; richardcloete; science; thething

[laplata]

Maybe they’ll have us over for dinner.

[crusty old prospector]

With a nice Chianti and some fava beans.

[piasa]

Or, it is just a rock. But that makes for a dull headline.

[piasa]

Or, it is just a rock. But that makes for a dull headline.

[piasa]

Or, it is just a rock. But that makes for a dull headline.

[HKMk23]

WORMWOOD

[Who is John Galt?]

Scientists have discovered that the 3I/ATLAS — a Manhattan-sized interstellar object that potentially has alien tech — is much larger than previously thought...

Ok, but it needs a better name (nobody will remember "3I/ATLAS"). Since it's "anomalously massive", how about we call it the "Jerry Nadler Object" (JNO)?

;^)

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

Panic! But before you do, please write your representatives to further fund our research. Then, panic! And watch this space for further “The End is coming, please send money” messages.

[ChessExpert]

“its non-gravitational acceleration and its unusual approach to Venus, Mars and Jupiter, which the paper postulated could be “key target planets.”

Yeah. Maybe. I suppose. Who can say? Whatever.

[Beowulf9]

Ain’t I gots enough to worry about without this goin’ on?

[No name given]

E.T phone home.

[Nervous Tick]

Scientists, huh.

I don’t know whether to 🤣😂🤣 or 🤢🤮.

[Veto!]

Tom Lehrer: “We Will All Go Together When We Go”.

You can watch him sing and play piano on YouTube. Very very funny,,

[Nervous Tick]

Cool GIF!
Now do Portland!

[Red Badger]

[Opinionated Blowhard]

It could change everything for us.

Yeah. If it hits the Earth, all life will be extinguished and life on the planet will be back to the drawing board.

[Big Red Badger]

Exactly
This is Just Great.
.
The Rapture was a Bust and
Here’s This
Giant Meteorite!?!

[Vermont Lt]

“We’re gonna need a bigger telescope.“
————

I know it’s a riff on the scene from Jaws, but people get it wrong.

I know its pedantic, but I like Trivia.

The real quote is, “YOU are going to need a bigger boat.” Now “We’re.” It had been made clear to Brody that HE was not part of the crew.

[higgmeister]

Loeb further suggests that the tilt and pathway would allow the intelligent life on the object to gather “astrometric measurements, to determine the orbits and masses of the Solar System planets, allowing it to prepare an optimal approach strategy to the Solar System.”

[higgmeister]

Loeb further suggests that the tilt and pathway would allow the intelligent life on the object to gather “astrometric measurements, to determine the orbits and masses of the Solar System planets, allowing it to prepare an optimal approach strategy to the Solar System.”