An enigmatic interstellar object named 3I/ATLAS is making its closest approach to the Sun today, October 29, 2025. This event, known as perihelion, occurs as the object travels through the inner Solar System, but it remains hidden from view on Earth. Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, who has long argued that 3I/ATLAS is not a typical comet, is closely monitoring its approach, raising intriguing possibilities about the object”s nature.
3I/ATLAS will reach its perihelion at approximately 11:47 Universal Time (UT), passing at a distance of 1.36 Astronomical Units (AU), or about 203 million kilometers, from the Sun. Despite the significance of this milestone, the object is positioned nearly opposite to Earth, rendering it unobservable for several weeks. According to NASA, it will become visible again by early December 2025.
Loeb recently published an essay on Medium titled “The Acid Test of 3I/ATLAS at Perihelion,” in which he presents a hypothesis regarding the object”s behavior under intense solar heating. He argues that this critical moment could reveal its true characteristics. His “acid test” proposes two possible scenarios: the first is that 3I/ATLAS is simply a natural comet, which would likely disintegrate under the heat it experiences. “If it is a natural comet glued together by weak forces, its heating by 770 watts per square meter may break it up into fragments,” he stated.
However, Loeb suggests a more provocative scenario. He points to what he describes as anomalies, such as the object”s high nickel-to-iron ratio, which could indicate technological origins. “If 3I/ATLAS was technologically manufactured… it might maneuver or release mini-probes,” he asserted. Previously, he has speculated that the object could be an “alien mothership.” In this case, he posits that if 3I/ATLAS is indeed a massive craft, it would likely continue on its trajectory, leaving the Solar System behind.
Loeb”s most contentious theory revolves around the potential release of “mini-probes.” He provocatively asks, “Will 3I/ATLAS send mini-probes towards Earth as Christmas gifts to humanity?” This speculation is not mere conjecture for Loeb; his Galileo Project research team is actively preparing to monitor unusual activities related to anomalous objects in Earth”s atmosphere, based on data from three observatories in the coming months.
While today marks the perihelion of 3I/ATLAS, Loeb emphasizes that a key date to watch is December 19, 2025, when the object will come closest to Earth at a distance of approximately 267 million kilometers. In a recent interview with FOX News, he addressed the timeline for potential discoveries regarding these predicted “gifts.” He stated, “In the coming months, it will come closest to Earth on December 19th, just six days before Christmas,” but added ominously, “And my hope is it will not send us any gifts.”
As 3I/ATLAS undergoes its “acid test” behind the Sun, the scientific community awaits its re-emergence in December. The anticipation builds around December 19, when the object will approach Earth. Will it simply be a fading comet, or will Loeb”s Galileo Project uncover evidence of the “Christmas gifts” he has warned about? Observers will be keeping a close watch on the skies as this interstellar enigma continues to unfold.
