NASA’s SPHEREx space observatory has released new data on the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, revealing a cloud of carbon dioxide (CO2) surrounding the object. The observations, made in August 2025, indicate a mass loss rate of about 70 kilograms per second, with no water vapor detected.
The data suggest that 3I/ATLAS is not emitting a significant amount of water vapor, contrary to previous claims. Instead, the CO2 cloud indicates that the object may have a rocky composition and a large nucleus, approximately 46 kilometers in diameter. This would make it one of the largest interstellar objects ever discovered.
The unusual emissions also raise questions about the nature of 3I/ATLAS, with some speculating that it may be a technological design rather than a natural object. The alignment of its trajectory with the orbital plane of the planets could be more than just a coincidence.
Further studies are needed to determine what lies beneath the CO2 cloud surrounding 3I/ATLAS. The upcoming release of data from the Webb Space Telescope will provide valuable insights into the object’s composition and behavior. For now, scientists remain fascinated by the mysterious nature of this enigmatic interstellar visitor.
Source: https://avi-loeb.medium.com/3i-atlas-is-large-and-emits-carbon-dioxide-co2-22fe3a31b3e5