An Interstellar Visitor Above Mars Appears as a Massive Cylindrical Craft: A Possible Message From the Past
New images of the mysterious interstellar object 3I/ATLAS have emerged as it speeds through space. NASA classifies it as a hyperbolic interstellar object—born outside our solar system and merely passing through. Sensational headlines have described it as a “massive cylindrical craft,” but scientists stress there are no signs of artificial structure. The object is being studied as a potential “messenger from the past,” a relic from a distant star. The question remains: what can we learn from a visitor that formed billions of years ago, far from home?
In This Article:
What is 3I/ATLAS? The Scientific Verdict
3I/ATLAS is believed to be a natural body: a small icy or rocky object that resembles a comet. Its trajectory indicates a hyperbolic path that will take it outside the solar system. Observations have not detected any signs of artificial signals or structures. In short, this is a natural, ancient visitor rather than a ship from another civilization.
The Alien Debate: Loeb vs. Cox
Harvard professor Avi Loeb has argued that the object could be an alien spaceship approaching Earth, a claim that drew criticism from much of the scientific community. By contrast, Brian Cox told Radio X that the object is a comet from another solar system and a “messenger from the past.” He described it as fascinating: “Perhaps thousands or tens of thousands of light-years away… We don’t know how far away this solar system was that it came from.” He added: “It’s a messenger from the past in a way.”
The Current Status: Will It Hit Earth? What We Know
Earlier predictions suggested it might reach Earth around October 29, but the most recent photos show the object with a green glow as it passed Mars, captured with colour-enhanced imagery. Brian Cox said the object will not hit Earth; it will simply pass by. Scientists continue to observe 3I/ATLAS to learn more about its origin, trajectory, and what it might reveal about the cosmos.