Avi Loeb is back at it. As NASA deploys an unprecedented fleet of cameras and telescopes to observe the third interstellar visitor in history, the Harvard physicist points out an orbital coincidence with Jupiter so precise that, for lack of explanation, it defies chance.
A Little Context
The solar system has a new guest object, and like its only two known predecessors, ‘Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov, it arrives shrouded in controversy. The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, discovered in July 2025, is on track to make its closest approach to Earth, unveiling a wealth of scientific inquiries.
For NASA, it is a golden opportunity to study the chemistry of another solar system. For the controversial astrophysicist Avi Loeb, director of the Galileo Project, the orbital data unveils an “extraordinary anomaly” that has been linked to a possible artificial origin.
A Chance of 1 in 26,000
According to the latest trajectory data from NASA’s JPL, 3I/ATLAS is set to make its closest approach to Jupiter on March 16, 2026. However, what’s surprising is not just the approach itself but the exact distance at which it will occur.
If a hypothetical mother ship intended to “seed devices” on Jupiter or exploit its Lagrangian points for fuel-efficient parking, it would need to arrive precisely at the edge of the Hill Radius—the boundary of the gas giant’s gravitational influence.
By the time of the encounter, Jupiter’s Hill Radius will be 53.502 million kilometers. What raises eyebrows is that the minimum approach distance of 3I/ATLAS is 53.445 million kilometers. According to Loeb, the chance of an interstellar object randomly passing so precisely is about 1 in 26,000.
Engines or Degassing?
NASA has previously dismissed the idea that the observed “non-gravitational acceleration” in 3I/ATLAS is due to artificial engines. The comet is active; as it nears the Sun, its ice sublimates, resulting in gas jets that naturally alter its trajectory.
However, Loeb contests that the acceleration observed during perihelion was precisely what was required to adjust the comet’s course towards Jupiter’s Hill sphere. If it were a technological spacecraft, he speculates, the jets observed might represent thrusters conducting a gravity-assist maneuver rather than sublimated ice.
We Will Clear Up Doubts
The outcome of this captivating story will soon unfold. On December 19, 2025, the comet will make its closest approach to Earth, providing an ideal opportunity for detailed spectroscopic observations. Measurements of the speed and composition of the jets will help determine if the emissions originate from ice sublimation or technological propellants.
If, after passing by Jupiter in March 2026, we detect objects orbiting the gas giant that weren’t launched by us, the implications for humanity could be monumental. Otherwise, we will have had the unique opportunity to closely study a fragment of an alien world—a scenario that, as NASA argues, remains extraordinary in its own right.
Image | POT
In Xataka | NASA has been accused of “kidnapping” the 3I/ATLAS photos for a month and a half: it has had no choice but to publish them.