Hallo, Reddit! Wir sind eine Mischung aus Kometenforschern und Missionsteammitgliedern der gesamten NASA und unserer Partnerorganisationen; wir beobachten Komet 3I/ATLASdas dritte jemals entdeckte interstellare Objekt, das unser Sonnensystem passiert. Die Existenz dieser Objekte wurde schon lange erwartet – unsere Technologie wird gerade immer besser, um sie häufiger zu erkennen!
Der Komet 3I/ATLAS nähert sich am 19. Dezember der Erde am nächsten, aber keine Sorge: Er stellt keine Bedrohung dar. Es wird nicht näher als etwa 170 Millionen Meilen kommen – fast doppelt so viel wie die Entfernung zwischen Erde und Sonne. Es wird uns die einmalige Chance geben, Material aus einem anderen Sonnensystem zu untersuchen und mehr darüber zu erfahren, woraus Planeten anderswo in der Galaxie bestehen.
Fast 20 Wissenschaftsmissionen und Forschungsteams verfolgen und studieren 3I/ATLAS Während er sich durch das Sonnensystem bewegt, deutet alles darauf hin, dass er genau das ist, wonach er aussieht: ein wirklich cooler interstellarer Komet.
Neugierig, wie wir 3I/ATLAS studieren, was wir lernen oder welche Fragen wir beantworten möchten? Fragen Sie uns! ☄️ Wir beantworten Fragen sowohl auf Englisch als auch auf Spanisch.
Wir sind:
- Dr. Karl Battams, Hauptforscher, SOHO-Mission/LASCO-Instrument und NASA Sungrazer-Projekt, US Naval Research Laboratory (KB)
- Dr. Davide Farnocchia, Asteroiden- und Kometenorbit-Wissenschaftler, Solar System Dynamics Group, NASA JPL (DF)
- Dr. Kathy Mandt, Laborleiterin, Planetary Systems Laboratory, NASA Goddard (KM)
- Dr. Stefanie Milam, Projektwissenschaftlerin für Politik und Wissenschaft, James Webb Space Telescope, NASA Goddard (SM)
- Dr. Tom Statler, leitender Wissenschaftler für kleine Körper des Sonnensystems, NASA-Hauptquartier (TS)
- Dr. GERónimo Villanueva, stellvertretender Direktor der Solar Systel Exploration Division, God Goddard (GV)
NACHWEISEN: https://x.com/NASA/status/2001782779130867749
Wir kommen wieder 13:30 – 15:00 Uhr EST (1830 – 2000 UTC), um Ihre Fragen zu beantworten. Danke!
AMA: We’re NASA experts studying comet 3I/ATLAS – the interstellar object passing through our solar system. Ask us anything!
byu/nasa inspace
29 Kommentare
If 3I/ATLAS shows elemental or molecular signatures that differ from solar system comets, what would be the most revolutionary implication for how planets and stars form elsewhere?
Would you have new observations during the closest approach to earth, today?
Hey there, Now would you perhaps be willing to answer these anomalies with proper reasoning
that we are waiting for months now
**Geometric Coincidences:**
1. The retrograde trajectory of 3I/ATLAS is aligned to within 5 degrees with the ecliptic plane of the planets around the Sun, with a probability of 0.2% (as discussed [here](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2507.12213)). This suggests that the trajectory may have been planned.
2. The arrival time of 3I/ATLAS was fine-tuned to bring it to 29 and 54 million kilometers from Mars and Jupiter, respectively, and be unobservable from Earth at perihelion (as discussed [here](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2507.12213)).
3. The forecasted perijove distance of 3I/ATLAS during its encounter with Jupiter on March 16, 2026 is 53.6 million kilometers, close to Jupiter’s Hill radius, 53.5 million kilometers (as discussed [here](https://avi-loeb.medium.com/a-remarkable-new-anomaly-of-3i-atlas-420065c2cddf)). This match includes the non-gravitational acceleration that 3I/ATLAS displayed near perihelion. The rare coincidence might mean that 3I/ATLAS intends to release technological devices at Jupiter’s Lagrange points — where fuel requirements are minimal.
4. Analysis of the Hubble Space Telescope image from July 21, 2025 (as discussed [here](https://watermark02.silverchair.com/staf2054.pdf?token=AQECAHi208BE49Ooan9kkhW_Ercy7Dm3ZL_9Cf3qfKAc485ysgAAA3YwggNyBgkqhkiG9w0BBwagggNjMIIDXwIBADCCA1gGCSqGSIb3DQEHATAeBglghkgBZQMEAS4wEQQMixQX1dT8M6VhhBncAgEQgIIDKXM7tk2vb5IeUe-V_1jKdVNBMtl12wJNSzEHmJATsLD7HzrUesPsO9FySWXGAHHDFQH0EToiHTa_wi1EmAYvprpJKf4BMcLndbRmxjWK-EUMbrqWa4ZGWV2VaE58He6E-xcpx3FNl4XkjCH-n65BbCK74-3BtJnibO1wAY4VDdqFvPLuBScPGsihsw6GVB8SVNVInvkiylkhPZ-DCzzpbuUJ3qrTzBvR-jtcYVuoeCIrROKr1EV-cRBTxvLjhiRbwDuRgYs8d4dgqQ1UbYQI40oF2ShiIN5GXjOwVusBBE0gnXSF9LdZnXR6iEcOYpXHY8bwmxJcOPHCuonNh6gwCyy0xJI2sjCjsdYaPmBqoznYLZzov8T5KIrONBr7ZnG8q7vcFkx7_A0Fki8k-cZDjLCE7qqXuRott3CKJ_4xnjmdfuSZjqBYOb7F-2JDiJV7tUYZqT7tq7EJamSJxN-feSHy6LUFKe8BPK06-aErfcj_um1kuLnYFzh11RnLkLOxb4SJaLA94k99iz9ijeXXRcCBMANtdIS1cJdRCQW4_axxa61xYwmpGwIlZlQWVuI85v_6hWtVO6HiS5RTkZMGADlN7qoUMgF6qHmoQj9QH1zbd2UJ00ayrQ1Fj2BGQ6YOJLUT6RyFgZs98v5Wj7CuW9IHXo4Zw_vle6h_ODvGeGTiXhFVACXoln39L6At-DzJRXGlJLm38vXwT8ZoPyuajjtcxbZvdJzo0bwYnJ31Wa2j4IWMIGqTgHwXdB6-y-AUIGrTSafVGdbdd6lfCtS3PRL77hRCDeOyeOrh9whGZZM1tVUrXw6gGwrNnqmoGhPOoH_Pemgg5ToVwXtAFH1PA-VtD-FBwWs-kJgWuzc05_t_hbGZDNcn-eoTBv2JKsFRXYUmCEpZxGCHD0rINXS5xxcRM6Z5lzntmsRlPfHhM6YxLhJmHBrzUbWpT4ZdGxJ6a63bqJ4VhgcSVXcmGGXieypaZ9QMOVasxB6Ex2PDrF4T9dfSOcujidcA8YKOOpg346m27AikXeRGe4TQZiGiYprMpUOk8moBBfCU5suZl2kK2X5bNKOK8e3C)) suggests that the anti-tail before perihelion must have been in the form of a tightly collimated jet that is about ten times longer than it is wide. This is similar to the tight collimation observed in the latest post-perihelion images. It is difficult to understand how the sublimation of pockets of ice as a result of illumination by sunlight would lead to tightly collimated jets out to a million kilometers. No known comet exhibited a physical sunward jet of this length. For a technological object, a beam of particles might be used to mitigate the risk from the solar wind that would otherwise impact its surface at a relative speed of order 500 kilometers per second and release a hundred thousand times more energy per unit mass than explosives.
5. At large distances, the rotation axis of 3I/ATLAS was aligned to within 8 degrees with the sunward direction when it entered the solar system (as reported [here](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2512.12819)). The probability for that is 0.5%.
6. The observed wobble of the pre-perihelion jet in the direction of the Sun (as reported [here](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2512.12819) during July and August 2025) requires the base of the jet to be within 8 degrees from the sun-facing pole, with probability of 0.5%.
**Composition Anomalies of the Gas Shed by 3I/ATLAS:**
11. The gas plume surrounding 3I/ATLAS contains much more nickel than iron, as found in industrially-produced nickel alloys, and a nickel to cyanide ratio that is orders of magnitude larger than for thousands of known comets, including 2I/Borisov (see [here](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2510.11779)). This might indicate a technological origin for these abundances.
12. The gas plume surrounding 3I/ATLAS contains only 4% water by mass, whereas water is a dominant constituent in familiar solar-system comets (as discussed [here](https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ae0647/pdf)). The plume might have resulted from the sunlight releasing the ices and dust that accumulated on the surface of a technological object during its journey through cold dense clouds of the interstellar medium.
**Unusual Physical Properties:**
13. The nucleus of 3I/ATLAS is much more massive than [1I/`Oumuamua](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1I/%CA%BBOumuamua) and [2I/Borisov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2I/Borisov), while moving faster than both (as discussed [here](https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2515-5172/adee06/ampdf) and %5Bhere%5D(https://arxiv.org/pdf/2509.21408)). There might not be enough rocky material in interstellar space to deliver a natural iceberg of this mass once per decade to the inner solar system (as discussed [here](https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2515-5172/adee06/ampdf)). This suggests that 3I/ATLAS may have targeted the inner solar system rather than being drawn at random from the reservoir of interstellar icebergs.
14. 3I/ATLAS shows extreme negative polarization, unprecedented for all known comets, including 2I/Borisov (as discussed [here](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2509.05181)). This unusual polarization may be related to its unusual anti-tail.
15. Near perihelion, 3I/ATLAS brightened faster than any known comet and was bluer than the Sun (as discussed [here](https://arxiv.org/pdf/2510.25035v1)).
(also when are we having clear pictures of Our friendly interstellar visitor)
Thanks
Hi NASA!
Could you tell us what is something special about this particular comet 3I/ATLAS than any others?
And how accurately do you calculate the distances and trajectories of these comets flying near us?
Thank you for the reply
Will it ever pass through our solar system again in the future at any point?
Why do you continue to call it a comet when that nomenclature is used for something with a defined specific tail pattern? Do you feel there would be a better way to refer to it, something like interstellar object?
Not going further in alien narrative still i have presented the anomalies formally presented and calculated by Prof. Avi Loeb in this comment section
and viewing it as a natural object still what answers have you gathered to explain these anomalies
[https://www.reddit.com/r/space/comments/1pqkjrd/comment/nuweqai/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/space/comments/1pqkjrd/comment/nuweqai/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
[https://www.reddit.com/r/space/comments/1pqkjrd/comment/nuwetu2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/space/comments/1pqkjrd/comment/nuwetu2/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
[https://www.reddit.com/r/space/comments/1pqkjrd/comment/nuwevbw/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/space/comments/1pqkjrd/comment/nuwevbw/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
due to listing all the anomalies i was not able to compact them in a single comment which made me create multiple comments so for convenience i have put them here in this one
Hope our hardworking team of scientist on whom the whole world is looking upto at this moment will answer these anomalies with proper reasoning
and thanks for working for we the people Team Nasa
I with many others are looking for answers from NASA about these anomalies
Your work is really appreciated
Also we are looking forward for better pictures of 3I/ATLAS in the coming days
Thanks once again
Wil it be possible to “chase” one of these interstellar objects and perhaps land on it, despite the ridiculously fast speed this one’s going through our solar system?
I just finished writing my master’s thesis on using synthetic aperture radar to analyze asteroid composition.
Have you utilized radar to analyze 3I/ATLAS? If so, what kinds of data have you gleamed from it?
What instruments and observatories were used to study 3I/Atlas, and what were the key findings?
Do we know what star system (if any) this comet came from? Or is there too much gravitational clutter between here and its origin that we can’t work that out?
Could it be part of an Exoplanet which once had life on it ? Any input from SETI ? Can we retask Hubble Telescope for better quality pics please ?
It’s a cool comet. Very *popular.* What crazy herculean manoeuvrers would be needed to visit it? Will the next interstellar comet be visited?
I am so incredibly grateful that you all would take the time to read through this page and answer some of our questions.
My question is, when you became aware of 3i/Atlas for the very first time, what was your gut reaction? We get all these amazing questions and answers about the incredible science you guys do, but how did you FEEL when you learned you’d have this opportunity? How did you feel when you knew you’d get another chance to study an interstellar visitor?
As just an enthusiast, I can tell you I have been following this story with so much passion and interest, I can only imagine how 3i/Atlas has changed the water cooler conversations. Keep up the amazing work and please stay curious
This is more of a psychology question, but I’m sure NASA has studied it.
Why do you think that interstellar objects like 3I/Atlas and topics like aliens are so divisive among the public? What is it about this topic that gets people so on edge and so passionate?
We know that NASA’s stance has been strong and stable throughout. That it’s a comet and there’s nothing to see here. —> Do you think more reporting and transparency around 3I/Atlas could have prevented some of the claims of artificial origin?
Can you comment on what is being done to try to combat the misinformation surrounding this comet. I’d love to get your feelings on the peddlers of misinformation like Abi Loab. What can NASA do to make sure we don’t get another Heavens Gate cult incident? Thank you for doing this AMA.
How can we trust your answers if it has already been proven through access to information that you censored data?
Will it get a name like ʻOumuamua did? Is there any thought of having some pre-approved names to pick from immediately after discovery, rather than having 4i/ATLAS and 5i/Rubin and 6i/Rubin and 7i/Rubin etc?
Has the international community thought about sending to space a piece of Benu on the intergalactic expressway using the frequency and wrapped in the Nickel compound shown to us -is 31/Atlas using our gold disc reference
What is the current estimated size and mass of the body of 3i Atlas, how were those measurements made and what is the degree of confidence in these estimates?
Are you making plans to have a mission lying in wait, prepped and ready to go, for when **4I/<something>** eventually shows up?
Close flyby, or even sample return?
There have been other missions where we collected dust samples from comets. We’ve also had spacecraft collect samples from asteroids.
Can you talk about the difficulty / feasibility of a mission to do something similar with an interstellar object? How much advanced notice would we need? Are either of these missions possible on an object like 3I Atlas?
anyone in your line of work making any predictions about how many more of these are likely to be found now that the Rubin Observatory is online?
I’d think that these currently rare interstellar objects are much more common than we’re aware of, but that’s just a guess on my part.
I’ve read various size estimates on Atlas. Do you already have all the data to churn out your best nominal or does it take further analysis? I know the nucleus is a challenge with comets so I’m curious as to the methodology and timeline. It’s now getting farther away, so I’m unsure of how much more data will come in
what surprised your team most once you started tracking 3I/ATLAS closely?
It’s fascinating to comprehend the speed of the chicxulub impact. Is there anything limiting the speed of objects in space? Theoretically could speed be limitless?
How frustrating has Avi Loeb’s approach to studying this comet been for you in terms of fueling the Internet misinformation machine and frustrating attempts at genuine science communication.
Sooooo lots of question but no answers?