NASA Tracks ‘Alien’ Object Speeding Toward Earth at 135,000 MPH
Scientists spot a strange object flying through space. It heads right for our solar system. NASA calls it 3I/ATLAS. This is the third interstellar visitor we know about. The first was Oumuamua in 2017. The second was Borisov in 2019. Now, this one grabs attention.
Comet 3I/ATLAS streaks across a dense star field© NSF NOIRLab/Int.Gemini Ob et al. / SWNS
The object moves fast. It clocks in at 135,000 miles per hour. That is about 60 kilometers per second. It comes from outside our solar system. Experts say it started its trip long ago. It might have traveled for millions of years.
First, astronomers found it on July 1, 2025. The ATLAS telescope in Chile caught it. ATLAS stands for Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System. It hunts for space rocks that might hit Earth. But this one will not hit us. NASA says it stays far away.
However, Harvard professor Avi Loeb thinks differently. He says it could be alien tech. Loeb is known for bold ideas. He wrote books like “Extraterrestrial” and “Interstellar.” He warns this object might be a probe from another world. “It could come to save us or to destroy us,” Loeb said. “We better be prepared for both possibilities.”
Artist impression shows first interstellar object
Why does he think that? The object has odd traits. It lacks a clear tail like most comets. Comets usually show dust and gas when near the sun. But not this one yet. Also, its path is weird. It flies in the opposite direction of most solar system objects. That is called retrograde orbit.
Moreover, it gets close to planets. It will pass Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. The chance of that is very low, about 0.005 percent. Loeb says it might spy on us. Or drop gadgets. He calls it a “blind date” with space. We do not know what to expect.
But not everyone agrees. Many scientists call it nonsense. Chris Lintott from Oxford University says it insults real work. He thinks it is just a comet. NASA agrees. They say it is natural. It will get closest to the sun on October 30, 2025. That is about 130 million miles away. Then, it hides behind the sun from our view until November or December.
If it is alien, arrival near Earth could be between November 21 and December 5, 2025. But NASA says no worry. Closest to Earth is 270 million kilometers. That is safe.
Let us look at the data. Here is a simple table of key facts:
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Discovery Date | July 1, 2025 |
| Speed | 135,000 mph (60 km/s) |
| Size | Up to 20 km (12 miles) wide |
| Closest to Sun | October 30, 2025, at 1.4 AU (130 million miles) |
| Closest to Earth | About 270 million km |
| Trajectory | Retrograde, close passes by Venus (0.4 AU), Mars, Jupiter |
[Insert Graph: A line chart showing the object’s path through the solar system. X-axis: Time from July 2025 to January 2026. Y-axis: Distance from Sun in AU. Peaks at entry, dips to 1.4 AU in October, then rises. Source: Google Images – search “3I/ATLAS trajectory graph”. This graph works on mobile and computer screens.]
Transition to more info. Scientists watch it closely. Telescopes like Hubble take pictures. One shows it as a fuzzy ball. No tail seen in latest shots. But some say a coma, or gas cloud, is there.
Loeb wants us to send a probe. Like a small CubeSat. It could check if it is rock or tech. He says we missed chances with past objects. Now is the time.
Meanwhile, other experts study its origin. It comes from the thick part of the Milky Way. Older stars live there. It might tell us about far worlds.
For more updates, check our site at https://america112.com/. We cover space news daily.
Loeb even ties it to the Fermi Paradox. Why no aliens yet? Maybe they hide. Or act hostile. He says send radio messages. Like “hello neighbor.” But then he worries. It might scare them.
Despite the buzz, most say relax. It is exciting science. Not danger.
[Image: Artist’s impression of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS. A bright comet-like shape against stars. From Google Images – search “3I/ATLAS artist impression NASA”.]
Want deeper dives? Visit https://america112.com/ for related stories.
External link: Read NASA’s official page on comets like this at
This story draws from top sources. We aim for truth. For live updates, head to https://america112.com/.
Professor Loeb pushes for action. “Verify that all interstellar objects are just rocks,” he says.
As it nears, we learn more. Stay tuned.