A mysterious object, 3I/ATLAS, has been drawing attention since its discovery in July 2025. Unlike most comets that originate from the outer edges of our Solar System, 3I/ATLAS is an “interstellar visitor,” born in deep space and passing through ours temporarily before exiting.
It’s one of only three known interstellar visitors, with Harvard scientist Avi Loeb exploring its properties. In a blog post, Loeb suggests that 3I/ATLAS could be producing its own light, rather than just evaporating dust from the Sun-facing side. He analyzes data collected by the Hubble Space Telescope and proposes two possible explanations: either the object’s nucleus produces most of the light or it’s powered by nuclear energy.
Loeb’s interpretation is supported by the fine-tuned trajectory of 3I/ATLAS, which could be comparable in size to previous interstellar objects. While these ideas are speculative, they spark debate among scientists and the public alike.
Source: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/3i-atlas-producing-own-light