Harvard astronomer identifies atypical acceleration and reverse tail on celestial body 3I/ATLAS

Researcher Avi Loeb, linked to Universidade of Harvard, has published a detailed analysis of the behavior of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS. The observations took place between November 22nd and 24th, 2025. The celestial body presented a luminous coma around its core. A main tail was also recorded in the opposite direction to Sol. Formation indicates a high level of activity for an object in that category. The highlight of the research is an antitail directed at Sol, which exhibits a length and brightness outside the standards known to astronomical science.

The comet’s perihelion occurred on October 29, 2025. Naquela date, the object reached a distance of 1.36 astronomical units from Sol. Informações processed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory confirmed a significant non-gravitational acceleration in the body’s trajectory. The instruments recorded values ​​of 135 kilometers per day squared in the radial measurement and 60 kilometers per day squared in the transversal. The magnitude of these numbers points to an ejection of material in volumes much higher than the mathematical models applied to natural comets in our system.

Astrônomos usando a rede MeerKAT detectaram um sinal de rádio claro do objeto interestelar 3I/ATLAS, revelando linhas de absorção de radicais hidroxila – típicas de cometas que liberam gás ao se aproximar do Sol. A assinatura confirma uma origem natural, contrariando teorias que… pic.twitter.com/14NARAWSkA

— JAMES WEBB (@jameswebb_nasa) November 10, 2025

Características anomalous and accelerated celestial body

The combination of physical and orbital factors distances 3I/ATLAS from other previously documented space visitors. The object’s mass loss rate reaches 50 billion tons per month. Esse degradation volume would compromise the physical structure of a natural body in a short period of time. Additional Medições from Minor Planet Center revealed an extra acceleration of 4.92 × 10^{-6} m/s² when normalized to one astronomical unit. The effect usually occurs in comets due to the release of jets of gas under heating.

Para To justify the boost observed in 3I/ATLAS, the body would need to lose at least 13% of its total mass. The values ​​require a quantity of material incompatible with an object estimated at 1 million tons. The scientist calculated that a technological propulsion system would generate the same displacement using less than 1% of the artifact’s mass. The comet’s trajectory follows a retrograde pattern with an inclination of 175 degrees. Alignment occurs just 5 degrees from the ecliptic. The probability of a natural origin for this exact orbital configuration is just 0.2%.

Data collected after perihelion, specifically on November 5, demonstrated the absence of a well-defined tail. The recent acceleration continued to be active even without the visual presence of the dust structure. The discrepancy indicates that the ejection of matter occurred in a concentrated manner. Não there was a wide dispersion of debris throughout the space around the nucleus. The orbital eccentricity of 6.14 attests to an extreme hyperbolic trajectory, calculated based on the arc of data obtained between May and November 2025. The integrity of the object after the solar approach reinforces the anomaly of the event.

Diferenças in relation to previous interstellar visitors

The scientific community compares the characteristics of the new object with the first extrasolar bodies detected in the last decade. 1I/’Oumuamua crossed the solar system in 2017 and demonstrated continued acceleration. Aquele artifact did not show visible coma or tail formation during its passage. The elongated shape and irregular rotation of the first visitor differ substantially from the rounded structure observed in 3I/ATLAS. The second interstellar object, called 2I/Borisov and discovered in 2019, behaved identically to a classic comet. Houve clear release of carbon monoxide in its trajectory.

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The behavior of 3I/ATLAS is unprecedented in the astronomical records of extrasolar bodies. The simultaneous presence of a developed coma and jets directed at Sol intrigues researchers. Imagens captured by the American space agency’s PUNCH mission recorded direct interactions with the solar wind between September and October. A solar conjunction that occurred on October 21st temporarily restricted monitoring. The raw data was processed and released only after the end of a government shutdown in Estados Unidos. The probability of such a specific orbital alignment for natural trajectories reaches the ratio of 1 in 100 million.

Estrutura of coma and emission of solar jets

Photographs taken on November 22, 2025 documented a coma with a diameter of 5 arc minutes. The gas cloud arises from the sublimation of volatile elements exposed to the heat of Sol. The process releases particles responsible for creating the anti-stick tail. The following day, images recorded the extension of the main tail reaching 500 arc seconds at an angle of 316 degrees. The visual configuration suggests the existence of multiple jets operating simultaneously. Analysis on the 24th confirmed the dimensions of the antitail pointing directly to Sol.

Earth and space observation equipment has provided precise details about the composition and behavior of emissions from the celestial body. The measurements contradict traditional simulations applied to comets in our system. Key data collected includes:

• Very Large Telescope identified the presence of cyanide and nickel vapor in concentrations equivalent to those found in solar comets.
• The object’s main tail houses between four and five distinct structures, reaching a maximum length of 900 arc seconds.
• The density of the jets in the solar antitail exceeds the pressure exerted by the solar wind in the orbit region.

Monitoramento Global and Research Outlook

Large capacity Telescópios will direct its mirrors towards 3I/ATLAS during December 2025. Rubin Observatory leads the object observation campaign, whose closest approach to Terra will occur on December 19th. The event will allow the capture of fine surface details. The Webb space telescope will analyze the chemical composition of the jets for molecular signatures. Paralelamente, the European space agency’s Hera mission will be able to cross the object’s ionic tail to measure the structure’s magnetic draping. The JPL Horizons system updates orbital parameters weekly.

Estudos speed variation indicated that sending a flyby mission would require a 24 kilometers per second capability. The technical requirement makes launch with available propulsion technology unfeasible. An interception probe would need to have departed before July 1st. Diante of the anomalies, Avi Loeb entered into a $1,000 bet with researcher Michael Shermer on the confirmation of an alien artifact by 2030. The prize amount will go to Galileo Project, an initiative focused on the search for evidence of interstellar technology.