3I/ATLAS turns striking blue near the Sun, Harvard scientist flags sudden, unusual changes as ‘very surprising’

Harvard Astrophysicist Avi Loeb Flags Strange Behaviour of Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS (Image: NASA)

Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has drawn attention to mysterious changes in the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, which recently passed through the Solar System. In an interview with Newsmax, he described the object’s sudden brightening and unusual blue hue as “very surprising,” calling for greater data transparency from NASA.

What makes 3I/ATLAS unusual?
According to Loeb, the object has brightened at an unexpectedly fast rate, far beyond what has ever been seen in other comets approaching the Sun. “It got much brighter than expected, much brighter than any previous comet from the Solar System did as it approached the Sun’s perihelion,” Loeb told Newsmax. This rapid increase in brightness has left many scientists puzzled.

Adding to the mystery, 3I/ATLAS appears distinctly blue, rather than the usual reddish or dusty tone typical of comets. Loeb explained that this shift in colour defies usual expectations. “The colour of the object is blue, bluer than the Sun. And that’s very surprising, because usually when there is dust around an object, it should make it red,” he said.

How close did it get to Mars?
Loeb further noted that 3I/ATLAS recently passed unusually close to Mars earlier this month. He mentioned that photographs of this close encounter have not yet been released by NASA, sparking curiosity among researchers and the public alike.

What could explain this behaviour?
Loeb suggested that the strange brightening and colour change might indicate more than a typical cometary event. He clarified that while natural explanations remain most likely, the possibility of something more extraordinary should not be ruled out entirely.

NASA, however, continues to state that 3I/ATLAS poses no threat to Earth. The agency maintains that all current data point to it being a cometary object. Some independent astronomers also agree that although its behaviour is rare, it still falls within the extreme limits of known natural phenomena.