Avi  Loeb Was Right, 3I/ATLAS Is More Dangerous Than ‘Oumuamua’

In July 2025, NASA’s ATLAS survey in Chile spotted a mysterious object unlike anything previously observed. Named ThreeEy Atlas, it is only the third confirmed interstellar visitor ever recorded, following ‘Oumuamua in 2017 and Borisov in 2019. Unlike its predecessors, ThreeEy Atlas was detected early, giving scientists a rare opportunity to track it through the solar system before it disappears into deep space once again.

Discovery: A Quiet Beginning

The discovery of ThreeEy Atlas was almost unremarkable at first. On July 1, 2025, the ATLAS telescope at Rio Ortado in Chile, funded by NASA, picked up a faint dot of light during a routine sky scan. There was no media fanfare or global headlines—it seemed like a typical minor space object. At first glance, the object resembled an ordinary comet from our solar system: a soft glow surrounded a small core, with a thin tail of dust and ice gradually vaporizing as it approached the Sun.

However, the tracking data soon revealed something extraordinary. Unlike comets and asteroids that orbit the Sun in predictable loops, this object followed a hyperbolic path, meaning it would pass the Sun only once before heading back into the void between the stars. This confirmed its interstellar origin, marking it as the first object in years that truly came from beyond our solar system.

Speed and Trajectory

ThreeEy Atlas moves at a staggering 60 kilometers per second—over twice the speed of Earth’s orbit around the Sun. Its high velocity ensures it will traverse the solar system in just a few months. It will reach perihelion, the closest point to the Sun, between October 29–30, 2025, when its speed and activity will peak. This moment represents the best opportunity for scientists to observe its behavior in detail.

Physical Characteristics

Observations so far suggest that ThreeEy Atlas has comet-like features. A faint coma—a haze of gas and dust—surrounds its solid core, and a small tail may be forming as sunlight warms the surface, causing outgassing. Its diameter is estimated at up to 20 kilometers, though glare from the surrounding coma makes exact measurements difficult. As it approaches the Sun, astronomers will monitor changes in brightness and activity to refine size estimates and understand its physical properties.

Spectral analysis—splitting its light into colors—will reveal its chemical composition, including water, carbon compounds, or other elements that could provide clues about its formation in another star system. Unlike ‘Oumuamua, which had an unusual shape and no detectable coma, or Borisov, which resembled a typical bright comet, ThreeEy Atlas sits in between: moderately active, faintly glowing, but not exhibiting extreme or anomalous behavior.

Comparisons With Past Interstellar Visitors

‘Oumuamua (2017): a cigar-shaped object with no visible coma or tail, sparking debates about artificial origin.
Borisov (2019): a typical comet with bright tail and water ice, confirming a natural origin.

ThreeEy Atlas provides a unique advantage: it was detected months before perihelion, giving scientists a complete observation window to study its approach, closest pass, and departure—a luxury unavailable for previous visitors.

Observational Opportunities

Thanks to modern technology, ThreeEy Atlas is already visible to large professional telescopes and some amateur setups in the Southern Hemisphere. From August through September, it will remain in ideal positions for extended observation, allowing astronomers to track its coma, tail, brightness, and rotation. At perihelion in late October, peak activity may reveal short-lived bursts of gas or dust. Even as it fades in December, scientists can study how sunlight affects its surface and how quickly outgassing ceases.

Technological Revolution in Detection

Early detection of ThreeEy Atlas reflects a revolution in observational astronomy. Automated surveys like ATLAS, Pan-STARRS, and the upcoming Vera Rubin Observatory now scan wide areas of the night sky nightly. Machine learning algorithms identify moving objects, flagging unusual candidates for detailed study. This level of readiness allows astronomers to prepare months in advance, coordinating observations with ground-based and space telescopes.

Future Mission Possibilities

Could humanity send a spacecraft to intercept such a visitor? The challenges are immense. ThreeEy Atlas travels at 60 km/s, far faster than any spacecraft has ever launched. Mission concepts like modular “rapid-response” probes could, in theory, reach interstellar objects if prebuilt and ready for launch. While unlikely for ThreeEy Atlas, early detection paves the way for future close-up exploration.

Implications for Science

ThreeEy Atlas highlights that interstellar visitors may be more common than previously thought. With three confirmed objects in less than a decade, astronomers may soon detect several per year. Each provides unique insight into planetary system formation, the ejection of material into interstellar space, and the diversity of cosmic bodies traveling between stars.

For the public, these objects are a vivid reminder that our solar system is part of a dynamic, interconnected galaxy, where tiny messengers from distant worlds occasionally pass through, carrying secrets from stars far beyond our own.