3I/Atlas

[CrusaderFrank]

A “comet” with CO2, but almost no water and nickel with no iron

Also the tail is in front and not trailing behind

In October it passes close enough to Mars for us to get a close up photo from the orbiter

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Yeah, it’s a strange one

Enters on the ecliptic, has its own light sources (?)

Does not come near Earth — yet

 

[ReinyDays]

You're getting better with Photoshop ...

 

[Old Rocks]

We have barely explored our own solar system. Why should we expect something coming from elsewhere to be the same as what we observe here? As for the observed anomalies, Occam's Razor should be applied before wild hypothesis's.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

The odds of it flying along the ecliptic are .2%, the odd of flyby past Jupiter, Mars and Venus are 1/20,000

The odd of it being a natural comet flying along the ecliptic, flying by Jupiter, Mars and Venus and apparently having a propulsion system are incalculable

Close flyby to Mars, unless it course corrects, will be in October

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Another visitor!!

SWAN

C/2025

Not acting like a “normal” comet either

22,554 year orbit

Massive tail, very odd composition

 

[CrusaderFrank]

You're getting better with Photoshop ...

I wish

 

[White 6]

I did not know, anybody on here was actually paying attention to 3I/Atlas story as it has unfolded. I admit. I do not know what to think.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Update!

3I has 9 companions, each generation 20 gigawatts of output, 3I itself produces 10 gigawatts

Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant produced 2 gigawatts

We cannot explain the physics by which either 3I or the 9 traveling companions that just APPEARED are generating that much power

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Update!

3I has 9 companions, each generation 20 gigawatts of output, 3I itself produces 10 gigawatts

Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant produced 2 gigawatts

We cannot explain the physics by which either 3I or the 9 traveling companions that just APPEARED are generating that much power

Also a complete black out from NASA and ESA as well

Nothing

To

See

 

[CrusaderFrank]

The spontaneously appearing companions have the following properties:

Small size, a city bus? 20 Gigawatt output,

advanced, coordinated propulsion

Consensus is that they are “non-natural”

Non-natural origin

Non-natural origin

AI Overview

While there are conflicting early reports, recent NASA Hubble and Webb Space Telescope observations suggest the companions detected orbiting interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS are approximately the size of a city bus

. The companions emerged suddenly in September 2025, from what many researchers speculate is a non-natural origin.
Discrepancies in size reports

• Initial estimates from ground-based telescopes offered a much wider range for the size of the objects, with some speculating the main body, 3I/ATLAS, was far larger.
• However, follow-up observations and high-resolution imaging from the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes provided a more focused look at the objects.
• Images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory also supported the detection of the smaller objects.

Nature of the companion objects
Unlike comets with a single icy nucleus and dusty coma, these companions exhibit unusual characteristics:

• Separated formation: The objects appeared without any visible ejection or fragmentation event, unlike a natural comet.
• Advanced propulsion: The companions move in "precise orbital formations" and complex three-dimensional patterns, requiring constant, unexplained propulsion.
• Lack of natural orbital mechanics: These movements defy known principles of space flight, as natural debris fields do not maintain such synchronized orbits or avoid collisions with such precision.
• Mission-specific parameters: The coordinated movements suggest distinct missions or purposes, with some objects following close loops and others following distant elliptical paths.

Scientific and public speculation
The discovery of these unusual objects orbiting 3I/ATLAS has prompted scientific investigation and public speculation regarding their origin. While some social media posts and early news stories have speculated on a potential extraterrestrial or "alien" origin, official scientific and NASA sources are proceeding cautiously. The event remains a significant and unexpected development in the study of interstellar objects.

 

[EMH]

Gotta love UFOs...

Red Alert Red Alert UFO approaching

speed 1.9 million miles per second...

launch interceptors, because a UFO going 10 times the speed of light will simply pull right up to the interceptor and get whacked by a missile going 1000 mph... and the UFO's weapons always MISS THE TARGET!!!

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Update

Though venting gas, the trajectory and speed remain constant

Normal comets gain speed and change trajectory as the lose mass

 

[BackAgain]

Update

Though venting gas, the trajectory and speed remain constant

Normal comets gain speed and change trajectory as the lose mass

Initially, I laughed at the speculation of some scientist (or scientists) suggesting that the object was displaying odd signs of being an alien “craft” of some kind.

I frankly still doubt the conclusion they have come to (for reasons involving the enormous distance involved from wherever it was presumably sent).

However, and despite that, it does seem odd that unlike other comets, the behavior of this one doesn’t seem to be impacted at all by the venting of gasses — in terms of changing trajectory.

Something seems to be very much “off” about 31/Atlas.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

I just came across this.

Hacked NASA files

Never
A
Straight
Answer

Someone claims to have hacked NASA and uncovered a trove of documents. In a shocking turn of events, NASA might have been entirely forthcoming on this visitor

On another note who do you use to provide information? I thought I had news about 3I flagged, but this got missed

 

[CrusaderFrank]

NASA treating 3I/Atlas like its carrying the Epstein files.

Remember the 9 companions? Now "Claims of their detection in September 2025 stem from misinterpretations of imaging artifacts in preliminary JWST/Hubble data or unsubstantiated social media leaks."

"Official Scientific Perspective
As of October 2, 2025, no peer-reviewed astronomical data or statements from NASA, ESA, or leading observatories (e.g., Hubble, JWST, or the Vera C. Rubin Observatory) provide estimates for any "power output" of 3I/ATLAS or hypothetical companions. This is because 3I/ATLAS is classified as a natural interstellar comet on a hyperbolic trajectory, with observed phenomena like outgassing (e.g., CO₂ at ~9.4 × 10²⁶ molecules/sec) attributed to solar heating rather than engineered propulsion. Its mass is estimated at over 33 billion tons (minimum), with a nucleus diameter >5 km, but energy production is not a relevant metric for cometary activity. Non-gravitational accelerations are minimal (<15 m/day²), consistent with natural processes.
The "nine hidden objects" or "escorting comets" remain unconfirmed in scientific literature. Claims of their detection in September 2025 stem from misinterpretations of imaging artifacts in preliminary JWST/Hubble data or unsubstantiated social media leaks. Ongoing Mars flyby observations (peaking October 3, 2025) by Perseverance, Curiosity, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter may provide clarity, but current consensus views them as noise or fragments from thermal stress.

Speculative Claims from Viral Sources​

Viral YouTube videos and social media posts, often attributing theories to physicists like Michio Kaku and Avi Loeb, speculate on artificial origins, including propulsion systems powered by nuclear or exotic cores. These are not backed by data and appear to originate from clickbait content. Key estimates include:

• 3I/ATLAS: A purported 10-gigawatt (GW) power source, inferred from its "thermal profile," green glow (linked to ionized carbon/cyanide), and tail behavior resembling "rocket exhaust." Pulses every 232 seconds are claimed to enable trajectory adjustments, slowing it from 88,000 km/h to 87,000 km/h—impossible naturally, per these theories.
• Nine Companion Objects: Each is said to output nearly 20 GW, despite being ~1/10th the size of 3I/ATLAS (city-block scale). This totals ~180 GW for the group, enough to "light entire nations." They allegedly share the same trajectory, speed, and green tails, with metal-rich compositions (nickel, cobalt, alloys) suggesting nuclear fusion-fission hybrids, antimatter, or dark matter catalysis for propulsion. Theories posit them as "drones" or "probes" shed by a "mothership" (3I/ATLAS) for reconnaissance.

Object	Estimated Power Output	Basis (Speculative)	Theorized Propulsion
3I/ATLAS	10 GW	Thermal glow, pulsing tail	Plasma engine (CO/CN emissions)
Each of 9 Companions	20 GW	Spectroscopy of "dense cores"	Nuclear/exotic fusion, coordinated flight
Total for Companions	180 GW	Combined fleet energy	Autonomous drones for solar system mapping

These figures equate to outputs rivaling Earth's largest nuclear reactors (e.g., 1–2 GW per plant) but compressed into small volumes, defying known physics. Kaku's attributed hypothesis involves a collision fragmenting a larger body into the nine objects, absorbing kinetic energy for glow. Loeb's "mothership" idea suggests the companions approach planets while the main body orbits distantly. Related claims link this to the 1977 Wow! Signal, requiring 0.5–2 GW transmission from ~600 AU.
Experts urge caution: Such videos often use AI-generated narration and exaggerate data. Real updates will come post-solar conjunction (December 2025). For tracking, use NASA's JPL Horizons or the Minor Planet Center."

Grok

Never
A
Straight
Answer

NASA is like modern archaeologists telling us the massive structures under Giza are "misinterpretations of imaging artifacts"

You need a very large telescope or a Mars Orbiter to get any clear pictures or information. Don't expect anything more on this from NASA

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Insider spills the beans


At the rate that “comet” is venting mass, it should be accelerating- but it’s not. Therefore we were told to assume it’s far more massive than justifiable. Worse, the “venting” might not be vent, but exhaust including pure nickle. The reading from the exhaust are neither dust nor ice but an exotic compound

Then there’s been the comet “tail” that’s been pointing TOWARDS the Sun that doesn’t rotate, change, flicker. The Suns heat should be burning it off, but isn’t

The scientist claims it’s a relic from the beginning of the Universe. It’s dark matter, the Sun has no effect on it

The laws of thermodynamics will have no impact on it

 

[CrusaderFrank]

A “comet” with CO2, but almost no water and nickel with no iron

Also the tail is in front and not trailing behind

In October it passes close enough to Mars for us to get a close up photo from the orbiter

Didn't expect much from the Mars flyby and won't disappointed.

Due to the government shutdown, NASA has to wait to post the edited, redacted flyby photos on their website

If I had photoshop skills, I'd put the Face on Mars over the photos NASA releases

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Only NASA and ESA have Mars Orbiter images and videos of 3i ATLAS and they classify them again as TOP SECRET.

The public has no access to any official image...

But this is just a perfectly normal comet

 

[CrusaderFrank]

3I is making its closest approach to Mars. The European Space Agency has 2 instruments there capable of providing some new observations, albeit no new photos of the nucleus

3I is too far away and would be less than a pixel on ESA cameras, nevertheless the ESA is NOT releasing any data on observations of the visible tail or other parts of the spectrum that can be measured

From Grok:

ESA Instruments on Mars for Observing 3I/ATLAS

The European Space Agency (ESA) is using two orbital spacecraft currently active around Mars to observe the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it passed at its closest approach of approximately 29 million km on October 3, 2025: Mars Express (launched 2003) and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) (launched 2016). These missions, primarily designed for Martian surface and atmospheric studies, have been slewed to point toward the comet’s trajectory between October 1–7, 2025. Observations focus on imaging the comet’s coma (gaseous halo) and tail rather than the nucleus itself, due to the vast distance.

Imaging Instruments

• High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on Mars Express: A pushbroom scanner with nine CCD lines, capturing color stereo images in visible light (typically 400–700 nm). It’s used here for broadband imaging of the comet’s extended features.

• Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) on TGO: A high-resolution telescope with four filters (blue, green, red, near-infrared) covering ~400–1,000 nm, enabling color and stereo imaging.

These cameras are not optimized for distant targets like comets, but they provide the best available views from ESA assets at Mars.

Best Possible Image Resolution

At 29 million km, the comet’s nucleus (estimated ~20–30 km across, roughly Manhattan-sized) would subtend less than one pixel in both instruments, making detailed nucleus imaging impossible. Instead, resolved features would be in the coma and tail (potentially spanning thousands of km).

• HRSC: Instantaneous field of view (IFOV) of ~8.25 arcseconds per pixel, yielding a ground-projected resolution of approximately 1,160 km per pixel at this distance.

• CaSSIS: Finer IFOV of ~2.34 arcseconds per pixel (11.36 μrad), yielding a ground-projected resolution of approximately 330 km per pixel at this distance—the best ESA resolution available for this event.

These estimates assume optimal pointing; actual images may be binned or exposure-limited by the comet’s faintness (magnitude ~15–18).

Other Parts of the Electromagnetic Spectrum

Beyond visible-light imaging, ESA’s spectrometers on these spacecraft can analyze the comet’s composition, outgassing, and dust via spectral signatures. Observations target volatile ices (e.g., water, CO₂) and organics. Coverage includes:

• Ultraviolet (UV: ~118–650 nm):

• SPICAM on Mars Express: Stellar (118–310 nm) and solar (130–310 nm) channels for upper-atmosphere-like scans of cometary gases.

• NOMAD-UVIS on TGO: 200–650 nm (extending into near-visible) for reflectance and fluorescence studies.

• Near-Infrared (NIR: ~1–2.5 μm):

• OMEGA on Mars Express: Visible-NIR (0.35–2.5 μm) for mineral/ice mapping in the coma.

• SPICAM on Mars Express: 1–1.7 μm for gas detection.

• Mid-Infrared (MIR: ~2.3–5.1 μm):

• NOMAD-LNO on TGO: 2.3–3.8 μm for trace gases like methane and water vapor.

• OMEGA on Mars Express: Short-wave IR (2.5–5.1 μm) for thermal emissions and ices.

No ESA instruments at Mars cover X-ray, far-IR, or radio wavelengths for this event. Data from these observations will be processed and released publicly via ESA’s Planetary Science Archive in the coming weeks, potentially revealing interstellar material differences from solar-system comets.