- 3I/ATLAS spins roughly every 7.1 hours.
- Its spin axis does not line up perfectly with its internal shape.
- That misalignment causes a wobble — like a slightly off-balance spinning top.
- As it wobbles, its jets appear to shift from tight beams to wider fan shapes.
- That shift causes the brightness to rise and fall.
Two additional jet periods were detected:
• Jet 2 at 2.9 hours
• Jet 3 at 4.3 hours
Those numbers add up to 7.2 hours — reinforcing the rotation interpretation.
Loeb’s conclusion: the triple-jet system could be caused by natural sublimation of ice pockets. But he does not rule out the alternative — that the jets could represent technological thrust mechanisms.
That is the unresolved question.
Why This Matters
3I/ATLAS is approximately 2.6 kilometers in diameter. According to prior measurements, only about 1% of its brightness comes from sunlight reflecting off its surface. The rest is from active material being expelled.
In other words — it’s not just drifting. It’s doing something.
Multiple jets positioned symmetrically could stabilize rotation. In spacecraft engineering, thrusters are arranged symmetrically to prevent tumbling.
Natural comets also vent gas in multiple directions — but usually in irregular patterns tied to uneven heating.
The debate is over symmetry and timing.
The Timeline
