Harvard physicist says massive interstellar object could be alien probe on ‘reconnaissance mission’

Harvard physicist says massive interstellar object could be alien probe on ‘reconnaissance mission’

Dr. Avi Loeb notes unusual glow pattern and planetary alignment of 3I/ATLAS

The object — dubbed 3I/ATLAS — was first detected in early July by an Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, or ATLAS, telescope located in Chile. (ATLAS/University of Hawaii/NASA)

Although NASA has classified the object as a comet, Loeb noted that an image of the cosmic visitor indicated an unexpected glow appearing in front of the object, rather than trailing behind it — something he described as "quite surprising." (NASA, ESA, David Jewitt (UCLA); Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI))

Dr. Avi Loeb, science professor at Harvard University, thinks the massive interstellar object could be alien probe. (Avi Loeb)