Discussion of 3I/ATLAS (Page 2 of 9)
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Originally Posted By Kagetora: I'll keep waiting for some odd behavior, thanks. Unless it's being posited that this is some form of probe passing though the solar system, yet again, before the "major event" that will come after. It's a rock/iceball/combo of the two, for the reasons I put forth previously. When it slows down and drops into orbit around some body in our solar system, instead of streaking through at a ridiculous velocity, I'll happily eat my words, with gusto. I want to believe. Otherwise, I'll wait for the next Avi Loeb "spaceship." 
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Everything posted above is factual. Maybe.
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I was reading about this the other day. One of Leob’s reasons for it being aliens is that it’s more or less coming in on the plane of the ecliptic. He says that’s like a 1:500 chance. So fucking what? Let’s say it’s coming in at 45 degrees to the ecliptic. Same 1:500 chance, but THAT 1:500 is more likely than a zero angle to the ecliptic? |
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But I will say the ATLAS program is very cool and finds all sorts of neat stuff  Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) 500mm 8 Frame NR Stack by FredMan, on Flickr Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) 11mm by FredMan, on Flickr
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ProTip: Never pick a fight with a tree planter. He swings a hoedad for 9 hours a day, carries 30-40 pounds of seedlings on his back, and has 12-14 friends just like him hiding out on the other side of the junk butt pile. They will fuck your shit up.
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Originally Posted By Kagetora: I'll keep waiting for some odd behavior, thanks. Unless it's being posited that this is some form of probe passing though the solar system, yet again, before the "major event" that will come after. It's a rock/iceball/combo of the two, for the reasons I put forth previously. When it slows down and drops into orbit around some body in our solar system, instead of streaking through at a ridiculous velocity, I'll happily eat my words, with gusto. I want to believe. Otherwise, I'll wait for the next Avi Loeb "spaceship." I mean that’s what we’re all doing, isn’t it? Monitoring it for unusual activity? It’s just that it has been doing some small unusual things. And I’m sure the powers that be are monitoring it for radio transmissions or the like. Odds are: it’s a totally natural phenomena. But the percentage chance of it being an alien craft isn’t zero… hence the discussion and tracking. |
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Soli Deo Gloria
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Originally Posted By macman37: I mean that’s what we’re all doing, isn’t it? Monitoring it for unusual activity? It’s just that it has been doing some small unusual things. And I’m sure the powers that be are monitoring it for radio transmissions or the like. Odds are: it’s a totally natural phenomena. But the percentage chance of it being an alien craft isn’t zero… hence the discussion and tracking. Originally Posted By macman37: Originally Posted By Kagetora: I'll keep waiting for some odd behavior, thanks. Unless it's being posited that this is some form of probe passing though the solar system, yet again, before the "major event" that will come after. It's a rock/iceball/combo of the two, for the reasons I put forth previously. When it slows down and drops into orbit around some body in our solar system, instead of streaking through at a ridiculous velocity, I'll happily eat my words, with gusto. I want to believe. Otherwise, I'll wait for the next Avi Loeb "spaceship." I mean that’s what we’re all doing, isn’t it? Monitoring it for unusual activity? It’s just that it has been doing some small unusual things. And I’m sure the powers that be are monitoring it for radio transmissions or the like. Odds are: it’s a totally natural phenomena. But the percentage chance of it being an alien craft isn’t zero… hence the discussion and tracking. No, no I don't think that's what's happening at all. Because some Harvard scientist says he believes it's a spaceship (like Oumuamua, which was also a rock), there's now a cult following around that concept and lots of spurious articles claiming how "strange" it's behaving and how it can't be natural. Note, I'm not saying that's what's happening on this forum, but it is happening. There are those out there still convinced Oumuamua was an alien craft. That'll happen with this one as well. You nailed it when you said the odds of it being aliens is non-zero, but it's so close to zero as to be negligible. I don't understand why we can't just be super-excited about some natural object from another part of the universe zipping by us and giving us a chance to learn something that we have to make it into aliens, I guess. It's cool enough as it is. As a side note, it's travelling 38 miles/second. Our nearest neighbor, Proxima Centauri, is 25,000,000,000,000 miles away. it's a 21,000 year trip at that speed, and it likely didn't originate there. This thing was probably ejected from it's home solar system when dinosaurs wandered the earth, or even earlier, and just by pure chance is here now. Uncountable numbers of these things are zipping through space, and by the nature of probability some will end up here. Of course, if it's a spaceship, it probably disengaged its warp drive just outside the solar system and decelerated to the speed we see before parking itself in orbit around Uranus. 
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Originally Posted By Kagetora: No, no I don't think that's what's happening at all. Because some Harvard scientist says he believes it's a spaceship (like Oumuamua, which was also a rock), there's now a cult following around that concept and lots of spurious articles claiming how "strange" it's behaving and how it can't be natural. Note, I'm not saying that's what's happening on this forum, but it is happening. There are those out there still convinced Oumuamua was an alien craft. That'll happen with this one as well. You nailed it when you said the odds of it being aliens is non-zero, but it's so close to zero as to be negligible. I don't understand why we can't just be super-excited about some natural object from another part of the universe zipping by us and giving us a chance to learn something that we have to make it into aliens, I guess. It's cool enough as it is. As a side note, it's travelling 38 miles/second. Our nearest neighbor, Proxima Centauri, is 25,000,000,000,000 miles away. it's a 21,000 year trip at that speed, and it likely didn't originate there. This thing was probably ejected from it's home solar system when dinosaurs wandered the earth, or even earlier, and just by pure chance is here now. Uncountable numbers of these things are zipping through space, and by the nature of probability some will end up here. Of course, if it's a spaceship, it probably disengaged its warp drive just outside the solar system and decelerated to the speed we see before parking itself in orbit around Uranus. Extra solar objects are interesting to me because of possibility that we are moving through some kind of interstellar debris field at regular intervals. We have a lot of science of solar dynamics and cycles, but little on whats beyond and small in size. We have seen stars forever, planets recently, but now small objects are exciting. |
“There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy”.
I cant attest to the validity of any of this.
Full text: 3I/ATLAS — The Most Puzzling Object We’ve Ever Seen We’re being told 3I/ATLAS is just another comet. But nothing about this object fits the mold. The deeper you look, the stranger it gets: •Only CO₂ outgassing This thing is releasing 70kg of CO₂ every second, but no carbon monoxide, and no water. That’s unheard of. Every comet in recorded history that produced CO₂ also showed other gases. This doesn’t. Why? Nobody knows. •No water coma Comets typically display water vapor and a classic water-based coma. For ATLAS? Nothing. No evidence of water dominance. No standard tail. Just CO₂, defying every expectation. •The size is shocking Newer estimates suggest a nucleus or effective radius that could reach tens of kilometers across, on the scale of 1/87 the Moon’s diameter. If that holds, this isn’t a pebble from another system. It’s a giant, and way bigger than first thought. •The light makes no sense SPHEREx data shows a perfectly symmetric cloud of light around the object, even glowing in FRONT of it. That’s the opposite of what comets do (they trail behind). Either it’s generating its own light, or it’s far larger and stranger than NASA admits. •Silence from JWST The James Webb telescope observed ATLAS weeks ago. Still no images released. Why? If this were just a comet, we’d already be drowning in glossy press releases. Instead, crickets. Perhaps their photoshop team is working overtime? •Suspicious lack of coverage NASA and other agencies haven’t bothered to point their other major telescopes at it. Think about that. A confirmed interstellar visitor, outgassing in a way we’ve never seen before, and they’re… uninterested? Or hiding something? •History rhymes The most famous unexplained radio signal in history, the 1977 “Wow!” signal, came from the same region of the sky. Now this object passes through that very plane of the ecliptic. Coincidence? Maybe. But the coincidences and anti statistical hand waving is piling up… ⸻ Why we should stay open-minded We’re being fed the “just a comet” story again. But 3I/ATLAS does not behave like any comet we’ve ever observed. ⸻ The Bigger Picture Whether natural or artificial, 3I/ATLAS is the strangest interstellar visitor ever recorded. And the refusal to give us clear, timely data only raises more questions. This object is either the most unusual comet ever seen, or it’s not a comet at all. |
“There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy”.
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Originally Posted By sq40: I cant attest to the validity of any of this.
Full text: 3I/ATLAS — The Most Puzzling Object We’ve Ever Seen We’re being told 3I/ATLAS is just another comet. But nothing about this object fits the mold. The deeper you look, the stranger it gets: •Only CO₂ outgassing This thing is releasing 70kg of CO₂ every second, but no carbon monoxide, and no water. That’s unheard of. Every comet in recorded history that produced CO₂ also showed other gases. This doesn’t. Why? Nobody knows. •No water coma Comets typically display water vapor and a classic water-based coma. For ATLAS? Nothing. No evidence of water dominance. No standard tail. Just CO₂, defying every expectation. •The size is shocking Newer estimates suggest a nucleus or effective radius that could reach tens of kilometers across, on the scale of 1/87 the Moon’s diameter. If that holds, this isn’t a pebble from another system. It’s a giant, and way bigger than first thought. •The light makes no sense SPHEREx data shows a perfectly symmetric cloud of light around the object, even glowing in FRONT of it. That’s the opposite of what comets do (they trail behind). Either it’s generating its own light, or it’s far larger and stranger than NASA admits. •Silence from JWST The James Webb telescope observed ATLAS weeks ago. Still no images released. Why? If this were just a comet, we’d already be drowning in glossy press releases. Instead, crickets. Perhaps their photoshop team is working overtime? •Suspicious lack of coverage NASA and other agencies haven’t bothered to point their other major telescopes at it. Think about that. A confirmed interstellar visitor, outgassing in a way we’ve never seen before, and they’re… uninterested? Or hiding something? •History rhymes The most famous unexplained radio signal in history, the 1977 “Wow!” signal, came from the same region of the sky. Now this object passes through that very plane of the ecliptic. Coincidence? Maybe. But the coincidences and anti statistical hand waving is piling up… ⸻ Why we should stay open-minded We’re being fed the “just a comet” story again. But 3I/ATLAS does not behave like any comet we’ve ever observed. ⸻ The Bigger Picture Whether natural or artificial, 3I/ATLAS is the strangest interstellar visitor ever recorded. And the refusal to give us clear, timely data only raises more questions. This object is either the most unusual comet ever seen, or it’s not a comet at all. The closer it gets the weirder it gets. Interesting. |
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Showed up on my feed this morning: What Is 3I/ATLAS? Chapters 00:00 The Discovery of 3I Atlas 12:21 Avi Loeb's Perspective on Alien Technology 25:25 The Fermi Paradox and Dark Forest Theory 37:30 The Implications of Hypervelocity Impacts 42:08 The Enigmatic Nature of 3I Atlas 45:02 Orbital Dynamics and Intercept Challenges 52:57 Potential Missions and Future Opportunities 56:47 Natural vs. Technological Origins 01:01:15 Close Encounters and Impact Probabilities 01:09:54 Conclusions and Future Implications |
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Originally Posted By sq40: I cant attest to the validity of any of this.
Full text: 3I/ATLAS — The Most Puzzling Object We’ve Ever Seen We’re being told 3I/ATLAS is just another comet. But nothing about this object fits the mold. The deeper you look, the stranger it gets: •Only CO₂ outgassing This thing is releasing 70kg of CO₂ every second, but no carbon monoxide, and no water. That’s unheard of. Every comet in recorded history that produced CO₂ also showed other gases. This doesn’t. Why? Nobody knows. •No water coma Comets typically display water vapor and a classic water-based coma. For ATLAS? Nothing. No evidence of water dominance. No standard tail. Just CO₂, defying every expectation. •The size is shocking Newer estimates suggest a nucleus or effective radius that could reach tens of kilometers across, on the scale of 1/87 the Moon’s diameter. If that holds, this isn’t a pebble from another system. It’s a giant, and way bigger than first thought. •The light makes no sense SPHEREx data shows a perfectly symmetric cloud of light around the object, even glowing in FRONT of it. That’s the opposite of what comets do (they trail behind). Either it’s generating its own light, or it’s far larger and stranger than NASA admits. •Silence from JWST The James Webb telescope observed ATLAS weeks ago. Still no images released. Why? If this were just a comet, we’d already be drowning in glossy press releases. Instead, crickets. Perhaps their photoshop team is working overtime? •Suspicious lack of coverage NASA and other agencies haven’t bothered to point their other major telescopes at it. Think about that. A confirmed interstellar visitor, outgassing in a way we’ve never seen before, and they’re… uninterested? Or hiding something? •History rhymes The most famous unexplained radio signal in history, the 1977 “Wow!” signal, came from the same region of the sky. Now this object passes through that very plane of the ecliptic. Coincidence? Maybe. But the coincidences and anti statistical hand waving is piling up… ⸻ Why we should stay open-minded We’re being fed the “just a comet” story again. But 3I/ATLAS does not behave like any comet we’ve ever observed. ⸻ The Bigger Picture Whether natural or artificial, 3I/ATLAS is the strangest interstellar visitor ever recorded. And the refusal to give us clear, timely data only raises more questions. This object is either the most unusual comet ever seen, or it’s not a comet at all. Your signature quote says it all, Horatio. This is the third extrasolar object that we've actually seen. How are we equipped to say it's behaving strangely? Maybe the next 87 objects will do the same thing. More likely each one is an individual object that'll display unique characteristics. An open mind is fine, so long as our brains don't fall out. It's also interesting that the same people (not here) who will tell you "science doesn't know everything," "that's just a theory, and can be wrong," "the scientific method is crap," or even "science doesn't know anything for sure" will be shouting TRUST THE SCIENCE from the rooftops now that it's saying something they want to hear. I really want it to be aliens. It has to be one of these times. |
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Originally Posted By Kagetora: Your signature quote says it all, Horatio. This is the third extrasolar object that we've actually seen. How are we equipped to say it's behaving strangely? Maybe the next 87 objects will do the same thing. More likely each one is an individual object that'll display unique characteristics. An open mind is fine, so long as our brains don't fall out. It's also interesting that the same people (not here) who will tell you "science doesn't know everything," "that's just a theory, and can be wrong," "the scientific method is crap," or even "science doesn't know anything for sure" will be shouting TRUST THE SCIENCE from the rooftops now that it's saying something they want to hear. I really want it to be aliens. It has to be one of these times. Originally Posted By Kagetora: Originally Posted By sq40: I cant attest to the validity of any of this.
Full text: 3I/ATLAS — The Most Puzzling Object We’ve Ever Seen We’re being told 3I/ATLAS is just another comet. But nothing about this object fits the mold. The deeper you look, the stranger it gets: •Only CO₂ outgassing This thing is releasing 70kg of CO₂ every second, but no carbon monoxide, and no water. That’s unheard of. Every comet in recorded history that produced CO₂ also showed other gases. This doesn’t. Why? Nobody knows. •No water coma Comets typically display water vapor and a classic water-based coma. For ATLAS? Nothing. No evidence of water dominance. No standard tail. Just CO₂, defying every expectation. •The size is shocking Newer estimates suggest a nucleus or effective radius that could reach tens of kilometers across, on the scale of 1/87 the Moon’s diameter. If that holds, this isn’t a pebble from another system. It’s a giant, and way bigger than first thought. •The light makes no sense SPHEREx data shows a perfectly symmetric cloud of light around the object, even glowing in FRONT of it. That’s the opposite of what comets do (they trail behind). Either it’s generating its own light, or it’s far larger and stranger than NASA admits. •Silence from JWST The James Webb telescope observed ATLAS weeks ago. Still no images released. Why? If this were just a comet, we’d already be drowning in glossy press releases. Instead, crickets. Perhaps their photoshop team is working overtime? •Suspicious lack of coverage NASA and other agencies haven’t bothered to point their other major telescopes at it. Think about that. A confirmed interstellar visitor, outgassing in a way we’ve never seen before, and they’re… uninterested? Or hiding something? •History rhymes The most famous unexplained radio signal in history, the 1977 “Wow!” signal, came from the same region of the sky. Now this object passes through that very plane of the ecliptic. Coincidence? Maybe. But the coincidences and anti statistical hand waving is piling up… ⸻ Why we should stay open-minded We’re being fed the “just a comet” story again. But 3I/ATLAS does not behave like any comet we’ve ever observed. ⸻ The Bigger Picture Whether natural or artificial, 3I/ATLAS is the strangest interstellar visitor ever recorded. And the refusal to give us clear, timely data only raises more questions. This object is either the most unusual comet ever seen, or it’s not a comet at all. Your signature quote says it all, Horatio. This is the third extrasolar object that we've actually seen. How are we equipped to say it's behaving strangely? Maybe the next 87 objects will do the same thing. More likely each one is an individual object that'll display unique characteristics. An open mind is fine, so long as our brains don't fall out. It's also interesting that the same people (not here) who will tell you "science doesn't know everything," "that's just a theory, and can be wrong," "the scientific method is crap," or even "science doesn't know anything for sure" will be shouting TRUST THE SCIENCE from the rooftops now that it's saying something they want to hear. I really want it to be aliens. It has to be one of these times. The point here is, this is real-time discussion. This is happening now, new information is popping up now, and we’re talking about it now. Nothing you’ve said is wrong, here, but the tinges here are worth pointing out. This is the “Discussion of 3I/ATLAS” thread, not the “discussion of ACTUAL ALIENS” thread.
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Originally Posted By macman37: The point here is, this is real-time discussion. This is happening now, new information is popping up now, and we’re talking about it now. Nothing you’ve said is wrong, here, but the tinges here are worth pointing out. This is the “Discussion of 3I/ATLAS” thread, not the “discussion of ACTUAL ALIENS” thread. Fair enough. I, too, like to be kept up-to-date on all of the oddities. 
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Originally Posted By Kagetora: I'll keep waiting for some odd behavior, thanks. Unless it's being posited that this is some form of probe passing though the solar system, yet again, before the "major event" that will come after. It's a rock/iceball/combo of the two, for the reasons I put forth previously. When it slows down and drops into orbit around some body in our solar system, instead of streaking through at a ridiculous velocity, I'll happily eat my words, with gusto. I want to believe. Otherwise, I'll wait for the next Avi Loeb "spaceship." Does the ΔV shown by Uamamuama (or whatever name is) count as "Odd behavior or propulsion"? |
The person who complains most, and is the most critical of others has the most to hide.
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
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Originally Posted By brass: Does the ΔV shown by Uamamuama (or whatever name is) count as "Odd behavior or propulsion"? Originally Posted By brass: Originally Posted By Kagetora: I'll keep waiting for some odd behavior, thanks. Unless it's being posited that this is some form of probe passing though the solar system, yet again, before the "major event" that will come after. It's a rock/iceball/combo of the two, for the reasons I put forth previously. When it slows down and drops into orbit around some body in our solar system, instead of streaking through at a ridiculous velocity, I'll happily eat my words, with gusto. I want to believe. Otherwise, I'll wait for the next Avi Loeb "spaceship." Does the ΔV shown by Uamamuama (or whatever name is) count as "Odd behavior or propulsion"? I will tell you I have no idea. Why? Because 1I/'Oumuamua is one of one. The first confirmed interstellar object. Tell me what's "normal" for it, then I'll tell you if anything about it is "odd." Is the "propulsion" confirmed by multiple independent sources? Is it explained by mundane effects like gravity slingshots or gasses/ice sublimating off the surface? I'm pretty sure the jury is still out on those questions, and will probably be forever. Now let's apply everything we learned from 1I/'Oumuamua (not much) to 3I/Atlas. Is its behavior "odd" compared to our other interstellar visitor? By what metric are we calculating "oddness?" Is it just based off one observation? Two, actually, if we include 2I/Borisov, which appeared completely different from 1I/'Oumuamua, being a comet with a coma and tail 14x the size of the Earth as opposed to a rocky asteroid body? That's the point. We don't have ANY idea, because we have a sample size of 2.5 right now, and all of them appear to be different. There is no possible metric to apply the term "odd" to any of them short of something obvious like a rapid deceleration, sudden change in direction, etc. Until then, it's a rock. It's a damn cool and certainly alien rock, considering it's interstellar origin, but small things like someone claiming the light isn't correct, or it's gassing in the wrong direction, or something similar just shows how little we know about these things. Not that it's a spaceship. And if it streaks through our solar system and keeps going at 38 miles/second, and everyone is still arguing over whether it did weird enough stuff to prove it was said spaceship...it wasn't. And it wouldn't matter anyway, unless it turned around and came back or the next one that shows up tells us this one was a spaceship too. Or, maybe it will do some really weird shit, or we'll get a solid image of it proving it's not just a ball of rock and ice. Wouldn't that be cool? 
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Some new scientific papers out today. NASA’s Webb Space Telescope Observes Interstellar Comet https://zenodo.org/records/16941949?token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJpZCI6IjJlMzIzZWNlLTE2NmMtNDVlYi1hNjQ1LWY0NWYzNjNkOTQwNyIsImRhdGEiOnt9LCJyYW5kb20iOiJkOGEyYjcxNmQ0NjFhZmM5MGRlMWM3NjU2NTY4Nzg3MiJ9.ydkIUd_88sI0zsbhRzfUBANVpxZt1dRH7alRn-bhh4EAd8R07WGFzTW6yGkQgdOyKr_1vz1dzOe8zNsr4bK04A NASA’s New SPHEREx Mission Observes Interstellar Comet https://arxiv.org/pdf/2508.15469 |
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Originally Posted By sq40: Some new scientific papers out today. NASA’s Webb Space Telescope Observes Interstellar Comet https://zenodo.org/records/16941949?token=eyJhbGciOiJIUzUxMiJ9.eyJpZCI6IjJlMzIzZWNlLTE2NmMtNDVlYi1hNjQ1LWY0NWYzNjNkOTQwNyIsImRhdGEiOnt9LCJyYW5kb20iOiJkOGEyYjcxNmQ0NjFhZmM5MGRlMWM3NjU2NTY4Nzg3MiJ9.ydkIUd_88sI0zsbhRzfUBANVpxZt1dRH7alRn-bhh4EAd8R07WGFzTW6yGkQgdOyKr_1vz1dzOe8zNsr4bK04A NASA’s New SPHEREx Mission Observes Interstellar Comet https://arxiv.org/pdf/2508.15469 Conclusion: It seems unusual as far as a Jupiter-family comet is concerned, but since it's coming from beyond our own solar system, we have so much left to learn? |
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Originally Posted By Kagetora: Conclusion: It seems unusual as far as a Jupiter-family comet is concerned, but since it's coming from beyond our own solar system, we have so much left to learn? It sounds like we need a new term for objects like this, as it doesn't fit the category of comet. Attached File |
“There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy”.
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Originally Posted By sq40: It sounds like we need a new term for objects like this, as it doesn't fit the category of comet. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/49447/IMG_1416_jpeg-3614071.JPG Originally Posted By sq40: Originally Posted By Kagetora: Conclusion: It seems unusual as far as a Jupiter-family comet is concerned, but since it's coming from beyond our own solar system, we have so much left to learn? It sounds like we need a new term for objects like this, as it doesn't fit the category of comet. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/49447/IMG_1416_jpeg-3614071.JPG I like the “it’s a comet, but it’s unlike a comet we’ve experienced”. |
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IS 3I/ATLAS REALLY A COMET? The most intriguing mystery in astronomy today is the nature of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS. Most astronomers believe it is a comet. However, iconoclast Avi Loeb of Harvard University makes the case that it might be something else--like alien tech. Into this debate comes new data from the James Webb Space Telescope. A paper just submitted to the Astrophysical Journal Letters reports that 3I/ATLAS looks like a comet, albeit a strange one. Here are the images from JWST:  Above: These JWST images show the distribution of carbon dioxide (panel b), water (panel c) and carbon monoxide (panel d). Most of the light is coming from CO2. The infrared space telescope found most of the ingredients we expect to find in comets. There's a fuzzy coma, volatile ices, and all the usual molecules: water (H20), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO). If 3I/ATLAS is a spacecraft, it has an uncanny disguise. However, there's also something strange. The ratios of the different molecules are quite unexpected and don't match what we see in Solar System comets. In particular, the CO2/H20 ratio of 8 ± 1 is extremely high. Only one other comet, C/2016 R2, is known to have similar chemistry, and astronomers have long considered it to be a "freak."  Above: Carbon dioxide-to-water ratios in known comets. 3I/ATLAS does not fit the trend. Typical comets have a lot more water in their atmospheres, with H20 almost always outnumbering CO2. It could be that water production in 3I/ATLAS has not yet fully "turned on" because it is still too cold. If so, solar heating could restore ratios to normal. 3I/ATLAS will reach its closest point to the sun (1.36 AU) on Oct. 29, 2025, potentially bringing forth a geyser of water vapor to mix with the other gases. Or, maybe, 3I/ATLAS is just strange--like it came from another star system. Stay tuned for updates. |
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Originally Posted By DaGoose: IS 3I/ATLAS REALLY A COMET? The most intriguing mystery in astronomy today is the nature of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS. Most astronomers believe it is a comet. However, iconoclast Avi Loeb of Harvard University makes the case that it might be something else--like alien tech. Into this debate comes new data from the James Webb Space Telescope. A paper just submitted to the Astrophysical Journal Letters reports that 3I/ATLAS looks like a comet, albeit a strange one. Here are the images from JWST: https://spaceweather.com/images2025/26aug25/jwstimages_strip.jpg Above: These JWST images show the distribution of carbon dioxide (panel b), water (panel c) and carbon monoxide (panel d). Most of the light is coming from CO2. The infrared space telescope found most of the ingredients we expect to find in comets. There's a fuzzy coma, volatile ices, and all the usual molecules: water (H20), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO). If 3I/ATLAS is a spacecraft, it has an uncanny disguise. However, there's also something strange. The ratios of the different molecules are quite unexpected and don't match what we see in Solar System comets. In particular, the CO2/H20 ratio of 8 ± 1 is extremely high. Only one other comet, C/2016 R2, is known to have similar chemistry, and astronomers have long considered it to be a "freak." https://spaceweather.com/images2025/26aug25/chemistry_strip.jpg Above: Carbon dioxide-to-water ratios in known comets. 3I/ATLAS does not fit the trend. Typical comets have a lot more water in their atmospheres, with H20 almost always outnumbering CO2. It could be that water production in 3I/ATLAS has not yet fully "turned on" because it is still too cold. If so, solar heating could restore ratios to normal. 3I/ATLAS will reach its closest point to the sun (1.36 AU) on Oct. 29, 2025, potentially bringing forth a geyser of water vapor to mix with the other gases. Or, maybe, 3I/ATLAS is just strange--like it came from another star system. Stay tuned for updates. Neat! Thanks for adding that! |
Pope Gregorius Billingsgate Callipygian Quimtickler, First of His Name
Chakravartin of the Feculent Multiversal Litterbox
Protodeacon of the Iniquitous
Gurkhan of the Illimitable Feline Hordes
Chakravartin of the Feculent Multiversal Litterbox
Protodeacon of the Iniquitous
Gurkhan of the Illimitable Feline Hordes
| Is this thing going to be visible at all? Amateur astrophotography? |
ProTip: Never pick a fight with a tree planter. He swings a hoedad for 9 hours a day, carries 30-40 pounds of seedlings on his back, and has 12-14 friends just like him hiding out on the other side of the junk butt pile. They will fuck your shit up.
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Originally Posted By FredMan: Is this thing going to be visible at all? Amateur astrophotography? I dont know but i just watched a youtube vid that said the coma is half the size of the sun. Pretty wild. I could be wrong but it seems that it will stay on the other side of the sun from us, making it not visible to us. But the coma will increase as it gets closer to the sun. Could interact with our solar system in some way. |
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Originally Posted By boolzi: I dont know but i just watched a youtube vid that said the coma is half the size of the sun. Pretty wild. I could be wrong but it seems that it will stay on the other side of the sun from us, making it not visible to us. But the coma will increase as it gets closer to the sun. Could interact with our solar system in some way. Originally Posted By boolzi: Originally Posted By FredMan: Is this thing going to be visible at all? Amateur astrophotography? I dont know but i just watched a youtube vid that said the coma is half the size of the sun. Pretty wild. I could be wrong but it seems that it will stay on the other side of the sun from us, making it not visible to us. But the coma will increase as it gets closer to the sun. Could interact with our solar system in some way. UH OH PANSPERMIA INBOUND 
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Let's Go Red Wings!
Beautifying the world one logo at a time since 1993.
Soli Deo Gloria
Beautifying the world one logo at a time since 1993.
Soli Deo Gloria
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Way back, there was a western where in the people panic as the earth is going to pass through the "tail" of the comet. Don't remember any more. The news of the day didn't treat things any differently than it does now, hence the panic. I wonder if it was Halley's Comet?
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Sic semper tyrannis!
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Originally Posted By macman37: UH OH PANSPERMIA INBOUND Originally Posted By macman37: Originally Posted By boolzi: Originally Posted By FredMan: Is this thing going to be visible at all? Amateur astrophotography? I dont know but i just watched a youtube vid that said the coma is half the size of the sun. Pretty wild. I could be wrong but it seems that it will stay on the other side of the sun from us, making it not visible to us. But the coma will increase as it gets closer to the sun. Could interact with our solar system in some way. UH OH PANSPERMIA INBOUND I hope we don’t get splashed. Gross. |
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Originally Posted By robmkivseries70: Way back, there was a western where in the people panic as the earth is going to pass through the "tail" of the comet. Don't remember any more. The news of the day didn't treat things any differently than it does now, hence the panic. I wonder if it was Halley's Comet? I know this is a sidebar but was that “Night of the Comet”? Zombie flick from the 80s? |
Let's Go Red Wings!
Beautifying the world one logo at a time since 1993.
Soli Deo Gloria
Beautifying the world one logo at a time since 1993.
Soli Deo Gloria
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Originally Posted By armoredman: Stupid movie but had some funny moments. If this thing starts deceleration for a zero/zero intercept, I'll worry. Until then, it's weird, interesting, and speculation is always fun. And with Avi Loeb fanning the flames, it’s gonna be a fun couple of months as it swings through… |
Let's Go Red Wings!
Beautifying the world one logo at a time since 1993.
Soli Deo Gloria
Beautifying the world one logo at a time since 1993.
Soli Deo Gloria
|
Originally Posted By macman37: And with Avi Loeb fanning the flames, it’s gonna be a fun couple of months as it swings through… Originally Posted By macman37: Originally Posted By armoredman: Stupid movie but had some funny moments. If this thing starts deceleration for a zero/zero intercept, I'll worry. Until then, it's weird, interesting, and speculation is always fun. And with Avi Loeb fanning the flames, it’s gonna be a fun couple of months as it swings through… I dont know that he’s really fanning the flames of alien freaks, but he’s being more logical than arrogant science, and on purpose to make a point. This is the perfect example to do it with. We cant always approach everything as if it should fall into a slot of our understanding. Nothing exists outside of our “intelligence”. One of these days there may be something from another intelligence come into our solar system, we need to be able to accept it and not completely lose our shit as we will do. He’s right, stock markets will crash, society will go completely ape shit. And before you dismiss the possibility that can happen, sometime in the future it may be our technology entering someone else’s solar system. |
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Originally Posted By robmkivseries70: Way back, there was a western where in the people panic as the earth is going to pass through the "tail" of the comet. Don't remember any more. The news of the day didn't treat things any differently than it does now, hence the panic. I wonder if it was Halley's Comet? Night of the Comet? ETA beat |
ProTip: Never pick a fight with a tree planter. He swings a hoedad for 9 hours a day, carries 30-40 pounds of seedlings on his back, and has 12-14 friends just like him hiding out on the other side of the junk butt pile. They will fuck your shit up.
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Originally Posted By Cypher214: Latest images show a fairly typical cometary tail. Maybe it's not a giant alien invasion ship after all. With the Rubin telescope operational, we're probably going to spot a bunch more of these interstellar objects. So there's still hope.
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Send lawyers, guns, and money.
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Originally Posted By boolzi: No, man! They're wrong! Originally Posted By boolzi: Originally Posted By Cypher214: Latest images show a fairly typical cometary tail. Maybe it's not a giant alien invasion ship after all. No, man! They're wrong! The aliens are monitoring our signals. "Captain, the bipedal cattle are growing suspicious of our approach." "Very well. Glibgorb, activate the tail hologram." "Aye, Captain. Tail hologram operational." |
Everything posted above is factual. Maybe.
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Originally Posted By Cypher214: The aliens are monitoring our signals. "Captain, the bipedal cattle are growing suspicious of our approach." "Very well. Glibgorb, activate the tail hologram." "Aye, Captain. Tail hologram operational." Originally Posted By Cypher214: Originally Posted By boolzi: Originally Posted By Cypher214: Latest images show a fairly typical cometary tail. Maybe it's not a giant alien invasion ship after all. No, man! They're wrong! The aliens are monitoring our signals. "Captain, the bipedal cattle are growing suspicious of our approach." "Very well. Glibgorb, activate the tail hologram." "Aye, Captain. Tail hologram operational." And not so fast, sure its got a tail…but its also showing nickel without iron, suggesting artificial manufacturing, plus this things gas plume is 95% CO2. Plus it’s showing cyanide. This thing is an interstellar manufacturing plant. Alien tech.  3I Atlas UPDATE! Signs of artificial metal detected! |
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Originally Posted By boolzi: And not so fast, sure its got a tail but its also showing nickel without iron, suggesting artificial manufacturing, plus this things gas plume is 95% CO2. Plus it's showing cyanide. This thing is an interstellar manufacturing plant. Alien tech.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV6Ae6AQfccOriginally Posted By boolzi: Originally Posted By Cypher214: Originally Posted By boolzi: Originally Posted By Cypher214: Latest images show a fairly typical cometary tail. Maybe it's not a giant alien invasion ship after all. No, man! They're wrong! The aliens are monitoring our signals. "Captain, the bipedal cattle are growing suspicious of our approach." "Very well. Glibgorb, activate the tail hologram." "Aye, Captain. Tail hologram operational." And not so fast, sure its got a tail but its also showing nickel without iron, suggesting artificial manufacturing, plus this things gas plume is 95% CO2. Plus it's showing cyanide. This thing is an interstellar manufacturing plant. Alien tech. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV6Ae6AQfccNo matter what, it's definitely going in the "weird" bin along with Omuamua. |
Everything posted above is factual. Maybe.
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Originally Posted By Cypher214: No matter what, it's definitely going in the "weird" bin along with Omuamua. Originally Posted By Cypher214: Originally Posted By boolzi: Originally Posted By Cypher214: Originally Posted By boolzi: Originally Posted By Cypher214: Latest images show a fairly typical cometary tail. Maybe it's not a giant alien invasion ship after all. No, man! They're wrong! The aliens are monitoring our signals. "Captain, the bipedal cattle are growing suspicious of our approach." "Very well. Glibgorb, activate the tail hologram." "Aye, Captain. Tail hologram operational." And not so fast, sure its got a tail but its also showing nickel without iron, suggesting artificial manufacturing, plus this things gas plume is 95% CO2. Plus it's showing cyanide. This thing is an interstellar manufacturing plant. Alien tech. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV6Ae6AQfccNo matter what, it's definitely going in the "weird" bin along with Omuamua. What if our laws of physics, time, and elements are only specific to our solar system. Our little brains think we are the knowledge of the universe, kinda the dunning-kruger thing.. |
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Originally Posted By FredMan: Is this thing going to be visible at all? Amateur astrophotography? @FredMan You should for sure be able to get some good photos. The digits are on Heavens Above to figure out the timing and direction for your location, they were saying naked ey in a week but binoculars now can see it in morning but I'm not sure if that was the US or someplace else. I don't know if they have the full orbital numbers yet or not but they should hat least have enough info to get your binoculars in the neighborhood then you can dial in the telescope. |
The person who complains most, and is the most critical of others has the most to hide.
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
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Originally Posted By brass: @FredMan You should for sure be able to get some good photos. The digits are on Heavens Above to figure out the timing and direction for your location, they were saying naked ey in a week but binoculars now can see it in morning but I'm not sure if that was the US or someplace else. I don't know if they have the full orbital numbers yet or not but they should hat least have enough info to get your binoculars in the neighborhood then you can dial in the telescope. Originally Posted By brass: Originally Posted By FredMan: Is this thing going to be visible at all? Amateur astrophotography? @FredMan You should for sure be able to get some good photos. The digits are on Heavens Above to figure out the timing and direction for your location, they were saying naked ey in a week but binoculars now can see it in morning but I'm not sure if that was the US or someplace else. I don't know if they have the full orbital numbers yet or not but they should hat least have enough info to get your binoculars in the neighborhood then you can dial in the telescope. I rely on you all. I've long dreamed of having equipment that can look to the heavens and gather beautiful images/collect data, it's just never been in the cards. Maybe after retirement. In the meantime, I love to look at anything all of you produce. 
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Pope Gregorius Billingsgate Callipygian Quimtickler, First of His Name
Chakravartin of the Feculent Multiversal Litterbox
Protodeacon of the Iniquitous
Gurkhan of the Illimitable Feline Hordes
Chakravartin of the Feculent Multiversal Litterbox
Protodeacon of the Iniquitous
Gurkhan of the Illimitable Feline Hordes
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Originally Posted By Kagetora: I rely on you all. I've long dreamed of having equipment that can look to the heavens and gather beautiful images/collect data, it's just never been in the cards. Maybe after retirement. In the meantime, I love to look at anything all of you produce. Originally Posted By Kagetora: Originally Posted By brass: Originally Posted By FredMan: Is this thing going to be visible at all? Amateur astrophotography? @FredMan You should for sure be able to get some good photos. The digits are on Heavens Above to figure out the timing and direction for your location, they were saying naked ey in a week but binoculars now can see it in morning but I'm not sure if that was the US or someplace else. I don't know if they have the full orbital numbers yet or not but they should hat least have enough info to get your binoculars in the neighborhood then you can dial in the telescope. I rely on you all. I've long dreamed of having equipment that can look to the heavens and gather beautiful images/collect data, it's just never been in the cards. Maybe after retirement. In the meantime, I love to look at anything all of you produce. Following the astro threads here turned me off the taste of taking them, I also don't have the patience and high horsepower computer/storage to keep it all safe and indexed and proof against loss. For Astrophtography seems $10+ grand to get in the game somewhat competitively, spending under $5k is just a kick self fine for not going big to start with but can't get any of the software to work and nothing is in focus and you spent the double minimum money because you thought you could get away with a little bit just to try it, then that little bit can't be sold but for pennies, repeat... I'm not that ready to experiment. |
The person who complains most, and is the most critical of others has the most to hide.
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.
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Originally Posted By brass: @FredMan You should for sure be able to get some good photos. The digits are on Heavens Above to figure out the timing and direction for your location, they were saying naked ey in a week but binoculars now can see it in morning but I'm not sure if that was the US or someplace else. I don't know if they have the full orbital numbers yet or not but they should hat least have enough info to get your binoculars in the neighborhood then you can dial in the telescope. Awesome. Time to start examining the ephemeris data! |
ProTip: Never pick a fight with a tree planter. He swings a hoedad for 9 hours a day, carries 30-40 pounds of seedlings on his back, and has 12-14 friends just like him hiding out on the other side of the junk butt pile. They will fuck your shit up.
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Originally Posted By brass: Following the astro threads here turned me off the taste of taking them, I also don't have the patience and high horsepower computer/storage to keep it all safe and indexed and proof against loss. For Astrophtography seems $10+ grand to get in the game somewhat competitively, spending under $5k is just a kick self fine for not going big to start with but can't get any of the software to work and nothing is in focus and you spent the double minimum money because you thought you could get away with a little bit just to try it, then that little bit can't be sold but for pennies, repeat... I'm not that ready to experiment. I’m not a telescope guy, all my work is done with DSLR and a long lens. And sometimes wide angle, for star field shots. Got the gear anyway, why not use it? BCD (black camera disease) is similar to BRD from a cost standpoint, and there’s no consumables like ammo! |
ProTip: Never pick a fight with a tree planter. He swings a hoedad for 9 hours a day, carries 30-40 pounds of seedlings on his back, and has 12-14 friends just like him hiding out on the other side of the junk butt pile. They will fuck your shit up.
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Looks like October 29 is periphelon Here’s ephemeris for October 2. It’ll be dim, magnitude 15-ish, but who knows. Might be capturable with terrestrial photo gear. We’ll find out! 
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ProTip: Never pick a fight with a tree planter. He swings a hoedad for 9 hours a day, carries 30-40 pounds of seedlings on his back, and has 12-14 friends just like him hiding out on the other side of the junk butt pile. They will fuck your shit up.