An image of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS from the Two-meter Twin Telescope in the Canary Islands, Spain. The image, composed of 159 exposures of 50 seconds each, was taken on August 2, 2025. It shows a faint jet pointed towards the Sun (marked by a purple line), extending out to a projected distance of about 6,000 kilometers from the nucleus (indicated by the crossing point of the thin red lines). The direction away from the Sun (where a generic cometary tail should have pointed), is shown in yellow. (Credit: M. Serra-Ricart et al., October 15, 2025)
Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has detailed eight mysterious anomalies in the newly discovered interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, including a jet of gas shooting toward the Sun instead of away from it. The object, which was first spotted on July 1, 2025, is currently racing toward its closest approach to the Sun on October 29. According to USA Herald, these findings are puzzling astronomers around the world and reigniting discussions about whether 3I/ATLAS could be more than a typical comet.
Loeb, who leads the Galileo Project at Harvard University, says the anomalies challenge conventional explanations. Among them, the most striking is a visible sunward jet – an emission of gas and dust moving toward the Sun instead of being pushed away by solar radiation. In standard comet physics, jets always point away from the Sun due to solar wind pressure. This reversal has scientists scratching their heads and questioning what forces could possibly cause it.
Other anomalies include its near-perfect trajectory, an unusual lack of a traditional comet tail, and unexpected reflectivity patterns. Loeb points out that 3I/ATLAS appears to be traveling on an exceptionally straight path, suggesting minimal gravitational influence from the planets it has passed. Its alignment is also curious, lying within five degrees of the Solar System’s orbital plane, which he describes as an improbable coincidence if the object entered from deep interstellar space.
Spectroscopic data from the James Webb Space Telescope adds to the mystery. The readings show an abundance of carbon dioxide and very little water vapor, which is atypical for comets passing near the Sun. That finding could indicate that 3I/ATLAS is made of unusual material not common in the Solar System. Loeb has previously suggested that such characteristics could be consistent with non-natural origins, though many researchers caution that natural explanations have not yet been ruled out.
NASA and other scientists remain skeptical but intrigued. Some argue that the anomalies could be explained by unique outgassing processes or the object’s composition and angle of rotation. Others say more observations are needed before making bold conclusions.
As 3I/ATLAS approaches its closest pass on October 29, astronomers are rushing to gather as much data as possible. Whether the object proves to be a rare interstellar comet or something even more extraordinary, it’s already one of the most fascinating visitors to enter our Solar System in years.