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Nasa Dismisses Astronomer's Claim of Alien Relic in Solar System
11 Sep
Summary
- Harvard astronomer suggests interstellar object could be an alien artifact
- Nasa experts say the object is a comet, not a technological artifact
- Object is traveling at record-breaking speed through the solar system
On September 11, 2025, Nasa dismissed a theory proposed by Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb that a rare interstellar object currently passing through the solar system could be an artificial relic from a distant civilization. The object, named Comet 3I/Atlas, is set to make a close pass with Mars next month.
Loeb, who leads the Galileo Project searching for evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence, had suggested in a scientific paper that the object's lack of a visible gaseous tail and its unorthodox trajectory could indicate it is a "technological artifact" with "active intelligence." He even warned that the object could potentially perform a "malign intent" maneuver and pose a threat to Earth.
However, Nasa's lead scientist for solar system small bodies, Tom Statler, has categorically stated that the object is a comet exhibiting typical comet-like behavior. Imagery from the Hubble telescope shows the object is up to 3.5 miles wide and traveling at a record-breaking speed of 130,000 mph. Statler said all comets, not just interstellar ones, can exhibit anomalies due to their composition and interaction with the sun.
Loeb acknowledged that the "simplest hypothesis" is that the object is a comet, but he wanted to raise alternative possibilities as an exercise in challenging preconceived ideas. Nasa, however, remains confident that the object poses no threat to Earth and is a natural celestial body, not an artificial relic from another civilization.
