The scientific community remains divided regarding the trajectory and fundamental nature of the interstellar object designated 3I/ATLAS, which recently traversed our solar system. Professor Avi Loeb, a renowned astrophysicist at Harvard University, has leveled serious allegations against the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), asserting that the agency is deliberately withholding crucial data concerning this cosmic visitor.
The core of Professor Loeb’s grievance centers on a specific photograph allegedly captured on October 2, 2025, by the HiRISE camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). At that time, Comet 3I/ATLAS, first identified on July 1, 2025, was positioned approximately 30 million kilometers from Mars. The astrophysicist stated publicly that his formal request to the principal investigator of the HiRISE instrument for the release of this image has gone unanswered. Observations conducted from Martian orbit, particularly those utilizing HiRISE, were deemed essential for accurately determining the diameter of the object's nucleus.
As the third confirmed interstellar body to pass through our system, 3I/ATLAS is generating controversy due to its highly anomalous characteristics. Loeb has consistently hypothesized that this object is not merely a natural comet but could potentially be an artificial technological artifact. He points specifically to the object's unusual acceleration and its peculiar chemical signature—namely, the observed expulsion of nickel without a corresponding presence of iron. In his view, this composition is physically inconsistent with standard cometary behavior. Conversely, the majority of astronomers, including those representing NASA, maintain that 3I/ATLAS is indeed a comet, and its passage offers a valuable opportunity to refine monitoring systems.
Loeb posits that the suppression of the data may stem from the fact that the October 2, 2025, image could potentially refute NASA’s claim that the object’s "atypical outburst" had normalized into a conventional tail. The object is traveling at a blistering speed of about 58 kilometers per second, significantly faster than its predecessors, Oumuamua and Comet Borisov. 3I/ATLAS reached perihelion—its closest point to the Sun—on October 29, 2025, passing 203 million kilometers from the star before beginning its exit from the solar system. The question of data transparency, especially regarding images captured during critical moments of close approach to Mars, remains a pressing concern, underscoring the fundamental scientific imperative for complete information exchange.
Looking ahead, the minimum distance between 3I/ATLAS and Earth is projected to occur on December 19, 2025. Furthermore, estimates suggest the object’s age could exceed 7 to 8 billion years, making it potentially older than the Sun itself. This extraordinary longevity only adds to the intrigue surrounding the mysterious interstellar traveler and the ongoing debate over the complete disclosure of observational data.