Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS could perform mysterious maneuver near the Sun, says Harvard astrophysicist

A mysterious interstellar object, identified as 3I/ATLAS, captured the attention of the global scientific community in late 2025. Its close passage to Sol triggered an audacious and controversial hypothesis from renowned Harvard astrophysicist,

The theory, although considered low probability by many experts, sparked an intense debate about the origins of the cosmic visitor and mobilized telescopes around the world. The possibility of witnessing an Oberth maneuver, an acceleration technique that maximizes fuel efficiency at the point of highest orbital speed, has placed 3I/ATLAS in the astronomical spotlight.

This event forced scientists to confront the fine line between exotic natural phenomena and the possibility of detecting extraterrestrial technology. The discussion around 3I/ATLAS represented a crucial test for methods of searching for technosignatures in the cosmos, regardless of their final nature.

What is the Oberth maneuver?

The Oberth effect is a fundamental principle of astrodynamics that describes how the use of a rocket engine becomes most efficient when the spacecraft is moving at high speed, typically at the lowest point in its orbit, known as periapsis. By activating its thrusters at this point of maximum kinetic energy, the ship obtains a significantly greater change in its speed and energy than if it did so at a point of lower speed. The Este “gravitational slingshot” effect, named after physicist Hermann Oberth, is an essential strategy for efficient interplanetary travel, allowing probes to maximize the use of their fuel. In the case of 3I/ATLAS, the Loeb hypothesis postulated that, if it were a technological artifact, it would take advantage of the immense gravity of Sol to reach its maximum speed during perihelion on October 29, 2025. back to interstellar space.

The anomalies that intrigue scientists

The speculation surrounding 3I/ATLAS did not arise without reason. The object exhibited a series of characteristics that deviated from the behavior of typical comets, leading the Avi Loeb team to identify it with a score of 4 on their scale assessing possible technological origins. Entre the most notable anomalies was a jet of material pointed directly at Sol, a behavior contrary to the traditional cometary tail, which is always pushed in the opposite direction by wind and solar radiation.

Additionally, spectral analyzes suggested a composition with a high concentration of nickel, an unusual element in comets from our Sistema Solar. The object also had a strong negative polarization, indicative of a smooth and possibly metallic surface, in contrast to the porous mix of rock and ice of a natural comet. Sua’s trajectory almost perfectly aligned with the ecliptic plane of Sistema Solar was another statistical improbability that, added to the other factors, built an intriguing circumstantial case for further investigation into its true nature.

The crucial moment of solar occultation

The timing of the alleged maneuver added an extra layer of mystery to the hypothesis. From October 21, 2025, 3I/ATLAS entered a period of solar conjunction, positioning itself directly behind Sol in relation to Terra.

This celestial alignment effectively blocked the view of optical and radio telescopes based on Terra for about eight days, creating an ideal window for any activity to occur without being directly observed.

This period of invisibility coincided with the object’s perihelion on October 29, its point of closest approach to Sol. Para Loeb, this was the perfect time for a smart probe to perform the Oberth maneuver or release sub-probes, all under the veil of solar occultation.

Debates in the scientific community

Avi Loeb’s proposal, while captivating, was met with significant skepticism among his peers. The general scientific consensus leaned toward a natural explanation for the object’s behavior, however unusual.

Space agencies, including NASA, have officially classified 3I/ATLAS as an interstellar comet of natural origin. Esta conclusion was supported by observations from instruments such as Telescópio Óptico Nórdico, which captured images of a more classical-looking cometary tail in September 2025.

Physical models, including one developed by Loeb himself in collaboration with Eric Keto, showed that the jet in the direction of Sol could be explained by the sublimation of different types of ice on the object’s surface. As the comet approached Sol, different volatile compounds would vaporize at different temperatures, creating complex outgassing patterns.

Prominent scientists, such as Jason Wright of

Solar energy and the hypothesis of a mother probe

At its closest approach, 3I/ATLAS was subjected to a colossal amount of solar radiation, estimated at more than 33 gigawatts. Essa power is comparable to one third of the entire nuclear energy production of Estados Unidos.

If the object were artificial, this energy could be harvested to power advanced systems or the propulsion system necessary for the Oberth maneuver. Isso led Loeb to speculate about the possibility of 3I/ATLAS being a “mother probe”, a larger vehicle designed for interstellar travel that releases smaller probes to explore planetary systems of interest.

Global monitoring and post-perihelion results

When 3I/ATLAS emerged from behind Sol in early November 2025, a global network of observatories was on high alert. The Rede Internacional of Alerta of Asteroides (IAWN) and the Centro of

After weeks of precise astrometric measurements, the results were inconclusive as to whether a large-scale artificial maneuver had been performed. Embora the object continued to show non-gravitational acceleration consistent with the release of gases from a comet, there was no drastic change in trajectory that would prove the Oberth maneuver hypothesis. Nenhuma new probe or secondary object has been detected in its vicinity, leaving the mystery of its nature hanging on a natural, albeit extraordinary, explanation.

The Loeb scale and the search for technosignatures

The case of 3I/ATLAS demonstrated the usefulness of structures such as the “Loeb scale”, created to classify astronomical anomalies based on the probability that they are of artificial origin. By offering a methodology for evaluating unusual data, the scale promotes a more rigorous scientific approach to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), transforming speculation into testable hypotheses.