NASA Confirms Largest Fastest Interstellar Object Passing Solar System

NASA has provided new insights into 3I/ATLAS, a mysterious interstellar object traveling through our solar system at a record-breaking speed of 130,000 mph, making it the fastest such known visitor. The Hubble Space Telescope's latest images reveal that 3I/ATLAS has a smaller icy core than initially thought, between 1,000 feet and 3.5 miles wide, yet it remains the largest interstellar object detected, up to 14 times bigger than the second largest. Scientists classify it as a comet composed of ice, dust, and frozen gases, with a tail and dust plume visible as it approaches the Sun, set to pass inside Mars’ orbit in late October without posing any threat to Earth. However, Harvard physicist Dr. Avi Loeb has raised the possibility that 3I/ATLAS may be more than a natural comet, noting an unusual glow in front of the object and an improbable trajectory aligned closely with the orbits of several planets, suggesting it could be an alien reconnaissance probe. The object's extraordinary speed and origin beyond the Milky Way have intrigued astronomers, prompting discussion about its potential ejection from another galaxy and its anomalous motion compared to known solar system objects. Further observations from telescopes including the James Webb Space Telescope are planned to better understand this enigmatic visitor before it leaves our view.