Fri Sep 05 05:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Harvard Astronomer Flags Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS as Potentially Anomalous, Raises Concerns
**Cambridge, MA** – Astronomer Avi Loeb, head of the Galileo Project at Harvard University, has raised intriguing questions about the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, highlighting several anomalies that distinguish it from previously observed visitors to our solar system.
3I/ATLAS, first detected before entering the solar system with a speed of approximately 60 kilometers per second, initially led to speculation that it originated from the Milky Way’s thick disk of old stars. This assumption was based on the idea that its high speed was inherited from an ancient star.
However, Loeb suggests an alternative explanation: 3I/ATLAS might have been launched at high speed relative to its parent star. He points to his previous research detailing how dwarf stars, due to their high density, can tidally disrupt planets, ejecting material at speeds matching 3I/ATLAS’s observed velocity.
Beyond its speed, Loeb notes other unusual characteristics: its retrograde velocity aligns with the ecliptic plane, a rare occurrence. Hubble Space Telescope images reveal a glow towards the Sun instead of a typical cometary tail, suggesting a lack of dust. Spectroscopic observations further reveal a depletion in carbon-chain molecules and a solid surface potentially 46 kilometers in diameter, far larger than previous interstellar objects like `Oumuamua and Borisov.
Recent observations by the Webb telescope found a gas plume composed primarily of carbon dioxide, while data from the Very Large Telescope indicate a dramatic release of nickel without iron, a hallmark of industrial nickel alloy production.
Given these anomalies, Loeb has assigned 3I/ATLAS a rank of 4 on the “Loeb Scale,” a measure of potential technological origin. While stopping short of definitive conclusions, he emphasizes the need for careful observation as 3I/ATLAS approaches perihelion on October 29, 2025.
“If you cross the street and realize that a racing car has a 40% chance of posing an existential threat, you better keep your eyes on that car,” Loeb stated.
Loeb also noted that a NASCAR racer contacted him, interested in featuring Loeb’s image on his car for an upcoming race, capitalizing on the media attention surrounding 3I/ATLAS.
Whether a natural phenomenon or something more, 3I/ATLAS continues to captivate scientists and the public alike, prompting further investigation into the nature of interstellar objects and their origins.
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