On December 19, comet 3I/ATLAS will make its closest approach to Earth. However, as stated by RAS astronomers, unlike the claims of some popular sources, it will not be observable with the naked eye. The comet can be seen in the pre-dawn hours, but this will require a telescope with a lens at least 20 cm in diameter.
3I/ATLAS will move through the constellation Virgo. At its approach on December 19, the comet will pass about 1.8 astronomical units from Earth. This is almost twice the distance from our planet to the Sun. What is known about the strange comet is in the document URA.RU.
The strange things of the mysterious comet
Abnormal protection beam
Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb said 3I/ATLAS could use a shielding beam to clear the path ahead of it. A scientist, after analyzing images of NASA's comet HiRISE, discovered a strange expansion in front of it in the direction of motion. The astronomer speculates that the light in front of the object could be a beam of light or a stream of particles emitted to eliminate micrometeorites and other small particles that may be encountered along the way.
Colors from another world
Additional data obtained by the XRISM telescope on December 6-8 also did not match the conventional image. Observations have shown that the object's light has an anomalous color composition with an excess of green radiation from carbon and nitrogen and almost no oxygen.
Additionally, the object shines toward the Sun, not away from it. The light itself is constant and pure, like a light turned on rather than a flickering flame. Some observers noted that this type of glow is typical for rocket engine tests on Earth powered by nitrogen or carbon fuel.
Excessive chemical activity
Among other things, comet 3I/ATLAS is distinguished by its record chemical activity. According to new data, this celestial body releases a huge amount of methanol – about 40 kg per second. The comet also actively emits hydrogen cyanide, and in its gas envelope, or coma, scientists have detected abundant water vapor and carbon dioxide. Another characteristic is the observation of an unusual “red” coma. This effect may indicate that the comet's material retained its original composition without being subjected to significant heating over billions of years.
Alien origin
Based on the collection of anomalies, Avi Loeb offers much broader hypotheses about the nature of the 3I/ATLAS object and its possible purpose. The scientist directly admitted that this object could be of artificial origin. He pointed out its unusual properties, including rhythms similar to a heartbeat. Loeb sees 3I/ATLAS as possibly representative of technological civilizations observing the solar system.
Developing his idea, the astrophysicist proposed a hypothesis that life on Earth could have been intentionally brought from space by more developed civilizations. Scientist calls on humanity to increase interplanetary research. He warned of the danger of self-destruction that, he said, other civilizations could face. As a practical step, Loeb proposed reallocating some of the world's military spending to fund space missions.
Comets pose a threat to humanity
3I/ATLAS could be a man-made object designed to launch satellites into orbit around Jupiter and in this case could pose a threat to humanity. According to Loeb's calculations, the object's orbit and time of arrival in the vicinity of the solar system appear to be “adjusted” with high precision.
The scientist considers the planned approach of the object to Jupiter as the main argument. Calculations show that when approaching the planet on March 16, 2026, the minimum distance 3I/ATLAS to perihelion will be about 53.6 million km. This value practically coincides with the radius of Jupiter's Hill sphere. This unusual coincidence may indicate that 3I/ATLAS intends to launch technological devices into orbit as artificial satellites of Jupiter.
What other comets can be seen this winter?
This winter, astronomers in Russia will be able to see two comets in the sky at the same time – 24P/Schaumasse and C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos). This was reported by the leading engineer of the Vega observatory of Novosibirsk State University, Mikhail Maslov. According to him, one of the comets is a well-studied, periodic object, while the second comet may show a more obvious tail and become an interesting target for astrophotographers.
24P/foam volume
Comet 24P/Schaumasse was discovered on December 1, 1911 by French astronomer Alexandre Chaumasse. It completes one revolution around the Sun in about eight years. In winter it will be visible throughout the season, best visibility expected in early January. At this time, its brightness will reach approximately the eighth magnitude. You need to look for comets at night and early morning in the constellations Virgo and Leo. In the sky, it will appear as a faint green spot, possibly with a faint tail. A small telescope or powerful binoculars are suitable for observing when the sky is dark.
C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos)
According to astronomers, the second comet, C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos), most likely has a notable tail. It can be observed in the second half of February. Its luminosity is expected to be around 6–7 magnitudes, making it an interesting object for astrophotography and observation with medium-sized telescopes. In late winter, comets should be searched during the early morning hours, low above the southeastern horizon.
