Avi Loeb Critiques NASA Over 3I/ATLAS Image Release Delay

Avi Loeb, a prominent astrophysicist from Harvard University, has publicly criticized the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for allegedly withholding crucial images of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS. He claims that these high-resolution images, captured by the HiRISE camera on October 2, 2025, during the object’s close approach to Mars, are essential for understanding its true nature. Despite Loeb’s persistent requests, NASA has not released these images to the public.

Loeb asserts that NASA is using the recent US government shutdown as justification for keeping the images classified. He believes this reasoning serves as a convenient excuse rather than a genuine barrier to scientific progress. “Instead of prioritizing science over bureaucracy, NASA has allowed red tape to stall the release of data at a pivotal moment in the study of 3I/ATLAS,” he stated.

The astrophysicist highlighted that the HiRISE images could provide a spatial resolution three times sharper than the best publicly available images from the Hubble Space Telescope. Such clarity could yield vital insights into the size and shape of 3I/ATLAS’s nucleus, as well as details about the structure and unusual orientation of its tail. These features have puzzled astronomers and challenged conventional comet behavior theories.

Anticipation Builds for HiRISE Image Release

According to Loeb, NASA has now indicated that it will soon release the high-resolution images of 3I/ATLAS. He shared in a recent Medium post that multiple sources informed him the images are expected to be available within days, specifically by November 14, 2025. “This is excellent news,” Loeb remarked, expressing eagerness to learn more about the object’s nucleus and the geometry of its anti-tail directed toward the Sun.

As the scientific community awaits these images, there is a heightened sense of anticipation regarding the potential revelations they may bring. Researchers hope to clarify whether 3I/ATLAS exhibits activity patterns consistent with typical comets found within our solar system or whether its behavior suggests anomalies that could imply a more exotic origin, perhaps even links to extraterrestrial phenomena.

The forthcoming HiRISE images promise to afford astronomers a unique opportunity to study 3I/ATLAS in unprecedented detail. This could ultimately facilitate a better understanding of its surface composition, structural features, and the underlying mechanisms that dictate its behavior as an interstellar object.

As the date approaches for the anticipated release, the scientific community remains on alert, eager to explore the mysteries that 3I/ATLAS presents.