In a groundbreaking analysis of the Hubble Space Telescope image of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, co-authored with my esteemed colleague Eric Keto, we reveal astonishing findings regarding the object's unique glow. This glow, which is a result of scattered sunlight, appears to extend significantly farther towards the Sun compared to its perpendicular or opposite directions. Specifically, the glow is twice as long when viewed from the Sunward direction, challenging our traditional understanding of such phenomena.
Unlike typical comets, which exhibit a tail of scattered sunlight pointing away from the Sun, 3I/ATLAS presents an intriguing anti-tail. The physics governing cometary tails is straightforward: dust particles scatter sunlight and, due to solar radiation pressure, are pushed away from the Sun. However, the presence of an anti-tail in 3I/ATLAS raises important questions. Why does this interstellar object display such a unique characteristic?
Our analysis indicates that the anti-tail is pronounced even under unfavorable observational conditions. On July 21, 2025, when the Hubble image was captured, the line-of-sight connecting 3I/ATLAS to Earth was misaligned with its line to the Sun by a mere 10 degrees. This geometric misalignment means that we are observing the extension of the glow almost edge-on, which is reduced by a factor of the sine of 10 degrees (approximately 5.76). If we were to observe the glow from a spacecraft hovering above it, we would witness an astonishing extension towards the Sun—ten times greater than its width or tail.
Our findings suggest that the scattered sunlight around 3I/ATLAS is primarily due to ice fragments, rather than the refractory dust typically assumed. These ice fragments are vaporized by sunlight, with the largest fragments being launched from the sun-facing side of 3I/ATLAS. This phenomenon results in a glow extending significantly further towards the Sun—ten times longer than sideways or backward—an observation unprecedented in the literature.
During a recent interview titled “Question Everything” on CBS News, I outlined five notable anomalies that make 3I/ATLAS a subject of special interest:
Retrograde Trajectory: 3I/ATLAS follows a retrograde trajectory aligned with the ecliptic plane of the Solar System, with a probability of 1 in 500. This alignment brings it remarkably close to Mars, Venus, and Jupiter. Size and Mass: The nucleus of 3I/ATLAS has an upper limit of 46 kilometers in diameter, making it a million times more massive than the interstellar comet 2I/Borisov. The upcoming imaging by the HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will provide the best resolution yet. Anti-Tail Phenomenon: For a period after its discovery, 3I/ATLAS exhibited a glow directed towards the Sun, an anti-tail never before observed in comets. Gas Composition: The gas plume surrounding 3I/ATLAS is primarily composed of carbon dioxide (CO2) and contains notable traces of carbon monoxide (CO) and water (H2O), among other elements. Polarimetric Behavior: 3I/ATLAS displays an extreme negative polarization of −2.77 percent, with a low inversion angle of 6.41 degrees, which is significantly different from all known comets.In the existing scientific discourse on 3I/ATLAS, these anomalies are often overlooked, adhering to the conventional portrayal of a dusty, water-rich comet. This reluctance to embrace new perspectives echoes the sentiment found in Ecclesiastes 1:9, suggesting that history repeats itself. However, the distinct combination of these five anomalies indicates that 3I/ATLAS may represent something far more intriguing.
As we continue to gather data about 3I/ATLAS from various telescopes on Earth and in space, we stand at the precipice of discovery. The upcoming passage of 3I/ATLAS near the Sun could unveil further mysteries, potentially defying the conventional wisdom that has dominated our understanding of such celestial bodies. It is time to question everything and explore the unknown!
