**Interstellar Object’s Approach Sparks Debate Over Potential Artificial Origin**
A Harvard astronomer is proposing a controversial theory regarding an interstellar object currently approaching Earth, suggesting it may be of artificial construction rather than a naturally formed celestial body. Avi Loeb, chair of the Harvard astronomy department, made the assertion to CNN on Thursday, reviving similar claims he has previously put forward in 2017 and 2023 concerning other interstellar visitors.
The object, designated 31/ATLAS, was initially detected by the Deep Random Survey telescope located in Chile. Loeb estimates its diameter at approximately 20 kilometers based on observed brightness, a scale he argues is improbable given the scarcity of rocky material within interstellar space sufficient to produce such a large entity on a decadal timescale. He emphasized that it takes roughly ten thousand years for this amount of mass to traverse the inner reaches of our solar system.
Notably, Earth will be positioned on the far side of the sun when 31/ATLAS makes its closest approach, precluding direct observation. Loeb suggests this proximity offers a crucial opportunity for observing any potential maneuvers the object might execute. While cautioning that he is not definitively declaring it alien technology, Loeb expressed that the object’s characteristics deviate significantly from typical celestial phenomena. He pointed specifically to an unusual glow observed in Hubble Space Telescope imagery – appearing ahead of the object rather than trailing behind, a pattern inconsistent with cometary behavior.
Loeb advocates for rigorous examination of all interstellar objects entering our solar system as a precautionary measure. He stated that 31/ATLAS “may come to save us or destroy us,” emphasizing the necessity of preparedness and comprehensive analysis. This latest discovery marks only the third confirmed instance of an interstellar object detected within our solar system, following the identification of ‘Oumuamua in 2017 – a slender, elongated object initially posited by Loeb as potentially propelled by a “light sail” mechanism originating from extraterrestrial intelligence.
While a subsequent 2023 study attributed Oumuamua’s anomalous trajectory and apparent propulsion to hydrogen outgassing from an icy comet—a process previously unconsidered for such large objects due to its subtle effects—the possibility of artificial origin remains a subject of scientific discussion. Jennifer Bergner, an assistant professor at UC Berkeley, explained that the diminutive size of Oumuamua amplified this typically negligible effect, generating sufficient force to explain its observed acceleration.
