Does a spacecraft approach the earth?

According to an assertion circulating on social media, extraterrestrial life forms move quickly to reach our planet in November. In addition, these “aliens” could have hostile intentions.

This statement is based on the fact that. Moreover, on the night of July 1, astronomers detected an unusual celestial object moving at high speed towards the sun.

This surprise visitor. Therefore, baptized 3i/Atlas, has a unique characteristic: its orbit suggests that it is an “interstellar” object from outside the solar system.

Astronomers think that 3i/Atlas is a comet. However. Similarly, in an article which has not yet been the subject of an evaluation by peers, three physicists have affirmed that this object could in fact belong to an extraterrestrial life, which aroused wide media coverage.

The news of this article. Consequently, which quickly spread into the press, turned on social media into speculation on the invasion of the earth by extraterrestrials does spacecraft approach earth? in November.

3i/Atlas: the fastest celestial body ever observed – Does spacecraft approach earth?

3i/Atlas is not the first outdoor visitor to the solar system. Nevertheless, Two other celestial bodies have already been detected crossing the interstellar space and approaching the sun.

However, certain characteristics make this new visitor extremely interesting. For example, this object moves at a speed of 245,000 kilometers per hour. Similarly, It is the highest speed ever detected in the solar system. For example, Its size is also estimated at 20 kilometers, which means that it is a gigantic mass.

Researchers from the University of Oxford have calculated that the 3i/Atlas comet. the third interstellar object to enter the solar system, is about 3 billion years older than the sun. The solar system is approximately 4.5 billion years.

In a message shared on the X account of the NASA Laboratory Jet Propulsion. Additionally, the following declarations accompany the image of the object:

“The comet 3i/Atlas was spotted does spacecraft approach earth? on July 1, but it does not come from here. It comes from outside the solar system and is the third known interstellar comet. Astronomers study it before it disappears”.

The NASA Hubble Spatial Telescope recently captured amazing 3i/Atlas images. An amateur astronomer on Bluesky. using the pseudonym “astrafoxen”, gathered the images and shared them, writing:

“The images of the interstellar comet 3i/Atlas taken by the Hubble space telescope were published! They were taken 5 hours ago. The images contain a lot of cosmic rays. but the coma of the comet (the trail left behind) looks very beautiful and fluffy”.

Before 3i/Atlas. the only known interstellar objects were 1i/ʻoumuamua, detected in 2017 and which surprised the scientists by its bar shape, and the comet Borissov (2i/Borissov), which broke into huge pieces two years later.

Both have now left the solar system and have returned to the interstellar space.

Where does the allegation of extraterrestrial come does spacecraft approach earth? from?

The idea that 3i/Atlas could be a “technological signature” of extraterrestrial life was mentioned for the first time in an article published by Avi Loeb. an astrophysicist from Harvard University known for his interesting claims on extraterrestrials, and his colleagues.

The article. written by Loeb and two British scientists, which has not yet been the subject of an evaluation by peers, puts this hypothesis on the agenda by drawing attention to the abnormal trajectory and the unusual speed of the object.

However. preliminary observations show that 3i/Atlas is a great comet, surrounded by a 24 -kilometer -wide coma composed of ice, gas and dust.

In an article downloaded on July 16 on the Arxiv pre -print platform. Loeb and his team believe that it is not an ordinary comet, but a spy ship sent by an advanced civilization. “If the hypothesis proves to be exact, the consequences could be disastrous for humanity,” said does spacecraft approach earth? the document.

However, Many astronomers dispute these claims. For example. Darryl Seligman, astronomer at the Michigan State University, told LiveScience that the object presented the classic symptoms of a comet and that “all the data suggest that it is an ordinary comet ejected by another stellar system”.

Loeb, although he did not argue the extraterrestrial hypothesis this time, says that such “thought exercises” are important to science. However. recognizing that it is unlikely that 3i/Atlas be an extraterrestrial technology, it said: “The most likely is that it is a completely natural interstellar object, perhaps a comet”.

He made the same affirmation for 1i/ʻoumamua

This is not the first time that Loeb has made such declarations. He also suggested that 1i/ʻoumuamua, the first interstellar object discovered in the solar system, was an extraterrestrial technology.

He even raised funds in 2014. arguing that the meteorite in the Pacific Ocean could also contain the remains of extraterrestrial technology, does spacecraft approach earth? and finally extracted pieces from the ocean and analyzed them in his laboratory. However, he could not obtain data to prove his thesis.

Loeb, who previously directed the Department of Astrophysics of Harvard, has distanced himself from his colleagues in recent years.

Could it be true?

Be that as it may, there are some reasons why Loeb’s articles have received such advertising. Sara Webb. lecturer at the center of astrophysics and superinformatics of the technological university of Swinburne, reminds us that we have already sent such probes in space in the past.

In an article published in The Conversation. Sara Webb said: “The idea may seem strange at first sight, but humans also sent their own interstellar vehicles to space, with travel 1 and 2 in the 1970s. These vehicles are today outside the solar system. Pioneer 10 and 11 vehicles will soon cross this line,” he said.

“It is therefore not exaggerated to think does spacecraft approach earth? that other civilizations. if they exist, have been able to send their own exploration vehicles”.

How to recognize an extraterrestrial vessel?

Mr. Webb has also listed some characteristics to distinguish natural celestial bodies from artificial objects likely to belong to extraterrestrial life:

– If he emits gas. like a comet, he is probably natural.

– If it issues radio signals, it is a strong indication of its artificial character.

– If there are electric lightnings due to sunlight, this may also indicate artificial technology.

– One of the most obvious signs is that the object changes direction or maneuver by itself.

– If the object approaches the earth and settles on a stable orbit, the question mark is much more important.

But as fascinating as these possibilities are. the evidence available to scientists suggest that it is simply an old frozen and extraordinarily rapid interstellar pebble.

How far will it approach the earth?

3i/Atlas will approach as close as possible does spacecraft approach earth? to the earth December 19, 2025. According to orbital calculations, the object will be at a distance of around 1.8 astronomical unit, or around 270 million kilometers.

This distance corresponds to approximately 1.8 times the distance between the earth and the sun. It will therefore not represent any danger for the earth.

The object will approach the sun closest on October 30, 2025, when 3i/Atlas is 210 million kilometers from our star.

Scientists hope to be able to observe the star in detail on these dates.