Some reports suggested the object was “changing course.” Researchers clarify that non-gravitational forces, including uneven outgassing, may cause deviations. As frozen gases heated by the Sun vaporize, they can create jet-like emissions that subtly alter a comet’s motion.
“Outgassing can act like tiny thrusters,” one astronomer noted, “but this is a completely natural process seen in many comets.”
Debate, Speculation, and Scientific Reality
The unusual nature of 31/ATLAS has fueled speculation, including controversial discussions about whether interstellar objects could be artificial. Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has argued that such possibilities should not be dismissed outright, stating, “The anomaly is not what we don’t understand, but what we assume we already know.”
However, NASA and the broader scientific community strongly maintain that 31/ATLAS behaves like a typical interstellar comet. Data collected so far show no evidence of propulsion, intent, or artificial structure.
A detailed explainer from Sky at Night Magazine addresses these claims here:
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/3i-atlas-not-aliens
