Astronomers have made a new discovery, observing an interstellar object hurtling towards the solar system’s center. The object, 3I/ATLAS, is only the third ever seen and has sparked debate among scientists about its origins.
Harvard professor Avi Loeb suggests that the object may be a spacecraft sent by an intelligent species from outside the solar system. He points to observations made by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope showing a glow of light ahead of 3I/ATLAS’ motion towards the Sun, which could indicate it is generating its own light.
Loeb proposes two possible explanations: that the object’s nucleus is producing most of the light due to its size being smaller than thought, or that it is emitting radiation due to radioactive material. However, he deems the former explanation “highly unlikely” and suggests that the latter requires more evidence to be viable.
The unusual trajectory and lack of a visible tail by 3I/ATLAS also undermine the theory that it’s a comet. The object will come close to Mars this fall, providing an opportunity for scientists to study it up close. NASA has agreed to use its Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to gather new data on the rare visitor.
Loeb’s theories have garnered attention due to his previous predictions about interstellar objects being relics from extraterrestrial civilizations. The debate surrounding 3I/ATLAS’ origins highlights the ongoing effort to understand these mysterious visitors and their potential implications for human intelligence.
Source: https://futurism.com/interstellar-object-light