Previously, the astronomer hypothesized that the object might be performing unusual maneuvers due to the ejection of a powerful gas stream, which should have stripped it of significant mass, but the latest photographs did not confirm this.
In August, Loeb claimed that 3I/ATLAS emits light resembling that of car headlights; however, the source of this light remains unknown. He suggested the possibility of artificial origin for the object and the presence of a powerful energy source. In September, the astronomer reported a new anomaly related to the change in color of the interstellar body.
3I/ATLAS (Interstellar object 3I) is an interstellar comet that was first observed on July 1, 2025. Its hyperbolic orbit indicates that it is not bound to the Sun: after passing by it, the object will leave our solar system. Computer models suggest that the age of 3I/ATLAS is about 7.5 billion years, making it several billion years older than the Sun and possibly the oldest comet ever observed by humanity.
This object has become the third interstellar body recorded by scientists, following 1I/"Oumuamua and the Borisov comet.
