Mystery Deepens as Comet 3I/ATLAS Sends Strange Radio Signal
There’s been quite a buzz lately about comet 3I/ATLAS , an interstellar traveler that has captured the attention of astronomers and space enthusiasts around the world. Recently, it reached its closest point to the Sun , known as its perihelion , marking a major moment in its journey through our solar system. What makes 3I/ATLAS so intriguing isn’t just its path or speed — though it’s racing away from the Sun at nearly 210,000 kilometers per hour — but the mystery that now surrounds it after reports of an unusual radio signal linked to its trajectory.
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To set the stage, 3I/ATLAS is only the third known object to come from outside our solar system, following the famous interstellar visitors ‘Oumuamua and Borisov . Its composition and motion suggest that it was formed around another star long before drifting into our cosmic neighborhood. Scientists have confirmed that it poses no threat to Earth , and despite a few wild theories floating around online, no planetary defense protocols were ever activated.
As it moves farther away, 3I/ATLAS is expected to leave our solar system for good by January 2026 , never to return. On December 19 , it will pass about 270 million kilometers from Earth — that’s roughly 700 times the distance between our planet and the Moon. Because of this enormous distance, the comet won’t be visible to the naked eye, though some of the world’s most powerful telescopes may still catch a glimpse of it for a few days.
But here’s where things get even more interesting. A few astronomers monitoring the comet’s path recently detected a faint radio signal coming from the same region of space it’s currently passing through. While there’s no confirmed link yet, the timing has sparked debate. Some experts suggest the signal could simply be natural — perhaps solar radiation interacting with the comet’s magnetic field. Others, like Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb , believe we shouldn’t rule out more exotic explanations just yet. Loeb, known for his bold theories, has even speculated that 3I/ATLAS might not be an ordinary comet at all, but possibly a technological relic from another civilization.
Regardless of what’s causing the signal, the event has reignited global fascination with interstellar visitors. For those eager to follow along, several astronomy platforms — such as The Sky Live and NASA’s “Eyes on the Solar System” — are offering real-time tracking and simulations of 3I/ATLAS’s journey. You can even watch its movement through interactive 3D maps, all updated using data from NASA’s JPL Horizons system.
Whether it’s just a fascinating space rock or something far more mysterious, one thing’s for sure — 3I/ATLAS has reminded us how vast and unpredictable our universe truly is.
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