On Oct. 29, the comet 3I/ATLAS reached its closest approach to the Earth’s sun in its trajectory as it traverses through the solar system. Discovered by the ATLAS observatory in Chile, this comet is the third one known to have come from outside the earth’s solar system and is expected to come no closer than 270 million kilometres from Earth. Its unique characteristics have attracted scientists’ attention, for multiple reasons, including its ability to transform in colour while passing near the sun, taking on a distinctive blue colour.
Harvard Professor, Astrophysicist, and Cosmologist, Abraham Loeb, has considered the possibility that 31/ATLAS’s origin may not be natural and suggested to Hindustan Times that its composition, stellar path, light emitting properties, and sun-pointing gas trail could indicate that it was created by extraterrestrial intelligence. Loeb also stated that while the comet is likely to be natural, the possibility of it using the sun’s gravity to change its course toward Earth in an Oberth maneuver should be seriously considered.
If its course stays on trajectory, 3I/ATLAS is expected to reach its closest point to Earth on Dec. 18, 2025.
