Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS is set to make its closest approach to Earth in just a month, coming within 170 million miles. After that, it’ll swing by Jupiter, getting even closer as it travels along its unusual path through our solar system.
Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb has floated a fascinating theory: he suggests that 3I/ATLAS might not just be a random space rock, but possibly an alien spacecraft. His blog notes that recent “non-gravitational acceleration” could have redirected it toward Jupiter’s orbit. This could mean it’s about to pass through a special region called Jupiter’s Hill radius, an area where Jupiter’s gravity holds sway over nearby objects.
In Earth’s orbit, we have regions called Lagrange points, where satellites can exist with minimal fuel. According to Loeb, if 3I/ATLAS is indeed technological in nature, it might be there to place devices on Jupiter.
He goes further, saying, “If we find technological satellites around Jupiter that we didn’t send, it could mean that an extraterrestrial civilization is interested in the planet.” However, this idea hasn’t received much support. NASA’s Amit Kshatriya dismissed Loeb’s claims during a recent conference, calling into question the assertion that 3I/ATLAS is anything other than a comet made of ice and dust.
Last month, as 3I/ATLAS approached the Sun, it experienced unexpected acceleration. While some believe this was due to the Sun’s heat causing it to lose mass, Loeb suggests it could be a “technological signature.” This extra push means it will come within 53 million miles of Jupiter on March 16, quite close to the planet’s Hill radius.
Loeb argues that the fine-tuning of this acceleration indicates something deliberate. He has urged NASA’s Juno spacecraft, which has been studying Jupiter since 2016, to take a closer look at 3I/ATLAS this spring.
He also cautions against jumping to conclusions, especially the idea that it’s merely a natural comet. If we were to find artificial satellites around Jupiter, it might challenge our understanding of our place in the universe. “Perhaps humanity arrived late to the party,” he writes. Jupiter has been in existence much longer than us, making it a prime target for earlier civilizations.
In short, as we gear up for 3I/ATLAS’s approach, questions remain. Is it simply a comet, or could it be something more? We’ll have to wait and see what future observations reveal.
For more on the subject, consider reading NASA’s take on 3I/ATLAS.
Source link
Avi Loeb, Jupiter, Hill radius, alien spacecraft
