An extraordinary “3I/ATLAS Blue Appearance” has been recorded as the interstellar comet reached its closest approach to the Sun on October 29, captivating astronomers and reigniting debate about its possible extraterrestrial origins.
A Mysterious Blue Glow Around Comet 3I/ATLAS
According to a preprint study and reports from Newsweek, the comet—first discovered in July 2025—experienced an unexpected rapid brightening in recent weeks. Researchers observed the phenomenon through a combination of spacecraft instruments, including STEREO-A’s SECCHI HI1 and COR2, SOHO’s LASCO C3, and GOES-19’s CCOR-1.
“The reason for 3I’s rapid brightening remains unclear,” the study authors wrote, noting that the comet “will likely emerge from conjunction considerably brighter than when it entered.”
Avi Loeb: “An Acid Test for Alien Origin”
Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, known for his research on interstellar objects such as ‘Oumuamua, said the event is an important opportunity to test whether 3I/ATLAS could be of technological origin.
