"A scientist has warned that the interstellar visitor moving closer to Earth could be a 'Trojan Horse,' where a technological object masquerades as a comet. Harvard professor Avi Loeb, who has been monitoring 3I/ATLAS since its discovery in July, said Wednesday that there is a 30 to 40 percent chance the object 'does not have a fully natural origin.' Loeb admitted that his ranking could change after new data comes in over the next few months,"
"'Given the uncertainty, it would be prudent to collect as much data as possible on interstellar objects from all directions and assess the level of risk based on that data.' The object, a rare visitor from beyond the solar system, is unusually large and closely aligned with the plane of the planets, making it visible to orbiters around Mars over the weekend."
3I/ATLAS is an interstellar object discovered in July that is approaching Earth and exhibits unusual properties. Observational analysis assigns a 30 to 40 percent probability that the object lacks a fully natural origin, though that estimate may change with incoming data. Upcoming observations include spacecraft measurements en route to Jupiter and a close approach in December at about 167 miles from Earth. The object appears unusually large and aligned with the plane of the planets. Mars-orbiting assets and the Perseverance rover captured images that suggested a cylindrical shape, but image stacking and camera effects likely exaggerated its size and form. Collection of further multi-directional data is advised.
Read at Mail Online
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