3I/Atlas

[CrusaderFrank]

I read that 3I hail from the same direction as the famous “WOW” signal. An anomalous radio signal captured in 1977.

I asked Grok “At its current trajectory and speed how far from Earth was 3I Atlas at the time we received the “wow” radio signal”

In Groks reply, it stated that 3I had to generate “only” 2 gigawatts to transmit the signal to Earth. It’s been clocked at 10

Approximately 600 astronomical units (AU).

The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1) follows a hyperbolic trajectory with a perihelion of about 1.36 AU from the Sun on October 29, 2025, and a hyperbolic excess velocity of roughly 58 km/s relative to the Sun. This inbound path means its distance from Earth in 1977—when the Wow! signal was detected on August 15—can be estimated by tracing its orbit backward.

Using the comet’s orbital elements (eccentricity ~6.14, inclination ~175° or retrograde 5° to the ecliptic), it was roughly 600 AU from Earth on August 12, 1977, and still about 600 AU on August 15 due to its vast distance and near-radial motion at that stage. This aligns with the light-travel time of ~3 days from that position, and the comet’s sky coordinates (RA ≈19h40m, Dec ≈-19°) closely match the Wow! signal’s origin (RA 19h25m, Dec -27°), with an alignment probability of ~0.6%. At such a distance, any hypothetical signal emission would require a transmitter power of 0.5–2 gigawatts to match the observed intensity of 54–212 Jansky over a 10 kHz bandwidth.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

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.

Why does it show it as a comet and then as huge space turd and then even as a barbell? This video is hilarious!

 

[CrusaderFrank]

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.

You can tell how off it is when even though there was very little extra we could learn as it passed Mars, due to the lack of sophisticated instruments NASA and ESA have there, there is a complete blackout from ESA. NASA is using the government shutdown as their convenient excuse

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Why does it show it as a comet and then as huge space turd and then even as a barbell? This video is hilarious!

Great takeaway!

Did you have the sound on?

 

[White 6]

Why does it show it as a comet and then as huge space turd and then even as a barbell? This video is hilarious!

It is funny, alright. Plays like mediocre Sci-Fi. You would be surprised, how many YouTube channels are playing various daily feeds on this 3I/Atlas story, and now SWAN. Obviously, it is all for the clicks and imbedded commercials. Still, better than some of the sci-fi on TV, these days.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

It is funny, alright. Plays like mediocre Sci-Fi. You would be surprised, how many YouTube channels are playing various daily feeds on this 3I/Atlas story, and now SWAN. Obviously, it is all for the clicks and imbedded commercials. Still, better than some of the sci-fi on TV, these days.

The heat signature
Rhythmic oscillations
Outgassing but not accelerating
Sudden appearance of 9 small companions, each with twice the power output
Venting nickel, but no iron
CO2 “tail” facing towards the Sun
Lockdown in new images from both NASA and ESA… etc

 

[MisterBeale]

The heat signature
Rhythmic oscillations
Outgassing but not accelerating
Sudden appearance of 9 small companions, each with twice the power output
Venting nickel, but no iron
CO2 “tail” facing towards the Sun
Lockdown in new images from both NASA and ESA… etc

. . . and the size of Manhattan?

 

[CrusaderFrank]

. . . and the size of Manhattan?

The size and mass estimate might be exaggerated.

One odd feature of it is that it is not accelerating as it should for a comet that is shedding mass, called Non Gravitational Acceleration

So the NGA is off because either its has its own power source or its much larger and more massive than originally assumed

The lack of transparency by NASA and the ESA should make us skeptical of their explanations

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

Great takeaway!

Did you have the sound on?

Yeah, I did. I thought the video was a great work of science fiction. Almost as good as an episode of Ancient Aliens.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

The heat signature
Rhythmic oscillations
Outgassing but not accelerating
Sudden appearance of 9 small companions, each with twice the power output
Venting nickel, but no iron
CO2 “tail” facing towards the Sun
Lockdown in new images from both NASA and ESA… etc

I found that part particularly interesting in that every image shows the tail away from the sun! How do you explain that contradiction?

How were all these measured on an object millions of miles away in space? We have to have satellites take images of objects like planets and asteroids that are much closer to get anything definitive. Personally, I have serious doubts about these deep space telescopes and the claims made by researchers about distant stars.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

The size and mass estimate might be exaggerated.

One odd feature of it is that it is not accelerating as it should for a comet that is shedding mass, called Non Gravitational Acceleration

So the NGA is off because either its has its own power source or its much larger and more massive than originally assumed

The lack of transparency by NASA and the ESA should make us skeptical of their explanations

What lack of transparency? You cannot state something you do not know!

 

[CrusaderFrank]

What lack of transparency? You cannot state something you do not know!

You got me there.

NASA and ESA have been providing nonstop updates, photos and data on a daily basis.....er, or something

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

You got me there.

NASA and ESA have been providing nonstop updates, photos and data on a daily basis.....er, or something

Got a link?

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Got a link?

to what? to the ESA not posting the latest observation from Mars?

Search

The Silence is deafening!

 

[CrusaderFrank]

I found that part particularly interesting in that every image shows the tail away from the sun! How do you explain that contradiction?

How were all these measured on an object millions of miles away in space? We have to have satellites take images of objects like planets and asteroids that are much closer to get anything definitive. Personally, I have serious doubts about these deep space telescopes and the claims made by researchers about distant stars.

We had both Hubble and the JWST observe it before it approached the Sun. Both telescopes are prevented from turning within 50 to 80 degrees from pointing towards the Sun. The only other instruments we have are ground based telescopes, which have provided some quality information. NASA and the ESA have some equipment on Mars. Unfortunately neither are capable of long distance observation. 3I would be less that a pixel.

As far as the CO2 coma pointing TOWARDS the Sun, there's no convincing natural explanation, same with the change in color to green, the sudden appearance of the 9 companions, the overall chemical composition, the absurd energy output of both the main comet and its twice as powerful riding companions and the lack of acceleration after venting particles off into space.

 

[White 6]

The heat signature
Rhythmic oscillations
Outgassing but not accelerating
Sudden appearance of 9 small companions, each with twice the power output
Venting nickel, but no iron
CO2 “tail” facing towards the Sun
Lockdown in new images from both NASA and ESA… etc

I have heard every one of those, and probably a few more. I cannot actually say, about the reported lockdown on new images from NASA and ESA. I do not know what standard releases are usually made.

 

[ReinyDays]

We had both Hubble and the JWST observe it before it approached the Sun.

I don't think that's possible ... nether instrument have large enough retrorockets for tracking a moving object ...

However ... any amateur telescope on the larger size should be able to track it ... and calculate the acceleration ... any anomalies in it's behavior would have been reported ...

SETI is calling it a comet ... and they posted a picture ...

 

[CrusaderFrank]

I have heard every one of those, and probably a few more. I cannot actually say, about the reported lockdown on new images from NASA and ESA. I do not know what standard releases are usually made.

Here’s Harvard astrophysicist Avi Lieberman on what’s expected from the Martian instruments

 

[CrusaderFrank]

I don't think that's possible ... nether instrument have large enough retrorockets for tracking a moving object ...

However ... any amateur telescope on the larger size should be able to track it ... and calculate the acceleration ... any anomalies in it's behavior would have been reported ...

SETI is calling it a comet ... and they posted a picture ...

Yeah

A comet

 

[CrusaderFrank]

I don't think that's possible ... nether instrument have large enough retrorockets for tracking a moving object ...

However ... any amateur telescope on the larger size should be able to track it ... and calculate the acceleration ... any anomalies in it's behavior would have been reported ...

SETI is calling it a comet ... and they posted a picture ...

Comet 3I/ATLAS - NASA Science