What if 3I/ATLAS is real?
3I/ATLAS, is suppose to be an interstellar comet, meaning it originated from outside our solar system. It was discovered in July 2025 by the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile.
The “3I” designation means it’s the third interstellar object ever detected, after ‘Oumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019). It’s traveling at over 130,000 mph and is believed to be billions of years old, possibly older than our solar system itself.
Why do we find 3I/Atlas Special?
– It’s a Rare Visitor: Interstellar objects are extremely rare. Each one offers a unique chance to study material from other star systems and has a high carbon dioxide content and started glowing (forming a coma) much farther from the Sun than typical comets, which is unusual and led to early speculation about its nature.
Some have speculated, including Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb, that such objects could be artificial, possibly alien probes. However, the scientific consensus is that 3I/ATLAS is a natural comet, though its oddities keep the debate alive.
Theories: Its composition, speed, and trajectory help test our understanding of how objects are ejected from other solar systems and travel through interstellar space. While there’s no evidence 3I/ATLAS is artificial, studying such objects keeps the door open for the search for extraterrestrial technology or biosignatures.
If 3I/ATLAS is real (and all evidence says it is), it’s a rare and exciting opportunity for science—a true messenger from another star system, not a hoax or science fiction. It’s a reminder of how much we still have to learn about our universe and the possibilities that lie beyond our solar system.
Are Earth’s governments prepared for a possible extraterrestrial visit by a manned craft? The answer is probably no! It’s easier to hide behind the fact that it’s most likely “just” a comet from another solar system.
If, against all odds, it is an intelligent extraterrestrial visit, will we “Earthlings” welcome this or will it be seen as a danger? My personal opinion is that it is probably a passing object, but if it were a “visit” from the universe, then we should welcome it. It has probably happened before in history.
As of now, we can only speculate about this until the date in November when 3I/ATLAS passes by.
I will be back shortly with updates.
Thanks for reading my post.
#Windmush / #curtbergsten
I watched scientists view the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS in real time. Here’s what they saw | Space
