New observations of the mysterious celestial object 3I/ATLAS have revealed a rhythmic, “heartbeat-like” pulsing pattern in the light it emits. This discovery has reignited discussions among scientists regarding whether the enigmatic object is a natural comet or a potential extraterrestrial spacecraft. Despite NASA classifying 3I/ATLAS as a comet, its behavior since detection has consistently puzzled researchers, challenging conventional understanding of cometary dynamics.

Rhythmic Pulsations Observed

Astrophysicist Avi Loeb has been closely monitoring 3I/ATLAS. In his latest blog post, Loeb suggested that the object might possess a structure where the light around it pulses at regular intervals. “A pulsating brightness with a period of 16.16 hours has been observed in the light of 3I/ATLAS,” Loeb stated. According to him, images obtained over the past month confirm the presence of multiple light jets around the object. He further explained, “If the mass loss in the jets periodically increases and decreases, the resulting coma would also exhibit a rhythmic change in how it reflects sunlight.” This finding follows earlier reports from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) noting "gravity-independent acceleration" in the object's orbital data.

Upcoming Close Approach

Harvard Professor Loeb posits that the object will reach its closest point to Earth on December 19, 2025, an event he describes as potentially “humanity’s closest possible encounter with extraterrestrial technology.” Loeb estimates that 3I/ATLAS will approach Earth within 269 million kilometers. This distance is approximately 100 times the size of the jet structures currently being observed. Consequently, Loeb highlights that the object presents a “unique observation target” for both the Hubble and James Webb telescopes.

Ongoing Debate

The debate surrounding 3I/ATLAS has centered on whether the object is truly a comet or an artificial spacecraft. While NASA officially categorizes it as a comet, observations since its discovery have fueled speculation, as its behavior has been described as contrary to the natural characteristics of comets. Avi Loeb's recent analyses propose that the object might have been produced through a mechanical or artificial process, whereas other scientists argue that its unusual behavior is simply an extraordinary, albeit natural, evaporation phenomenon.

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