NASA to Release Sharp Images of Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS

NASA is set to unveil the sharpest images yet of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, offering astronomers unprecedented views of this enigmatic visitor. Captured by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter‘s HiRISE camera during its passage near Mars from October 1 to 7, 2023, these images could shift the ongoing debate from speculation to concrete evidence regarding the nature of the object. The release had been delayed due to a recent government shutdown, but NASA indicated that the highly anticipated photos could be available as soon as next week.

The forthcoming HiRISE images promise to be the highest-resolution observations of 3I/ATLAS to date, surpassing previous photos taken by the Hubble Space Telescope on July 21. The HiRISE camera boasts a spatial resolution approximately three times better than Hubble, providing astronomers with an exceptional opportunity to examine the object’s structure. Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb emphasized the significance of these images, stating, “The HiRISE image would give us a side-view as well as a spatial resolution that is three times better than that of the Hubble Space Telescope.” He added that while the image might not resolve the solid nucleus itself, it can establish constraints on its diameter based on the brightest pixel.

3I/ATLAS has drawn interest not only for its size—comparable to that of Manhattan—but also for its unusual behavior. Unlike typical comets, it possesses a peculiar ‘anti-tail,’ a stream of dust that appears to point toward the Sun rather than away from it. Loeb has expressed concerns over this uncommon feature, which he describes as “not seen in everyday comets.” This has led him to suggest that 3I/ATLAS might not simply be a standard mass of rock and ice, raising intriguing possibilities about its origins.

The delay in the release of the images has sparked frustration among scientists and enthusiasts alike. Loeb criticized the government inefficiency that postponed the unveiling, stating that “science should have been prioritized over bureaucracy.” He opined that the truth about 3I/ATLAS would be revealed through data sharing rather than by bureaucratic gatekeeping. This sentiment resonates with many in the scientific community who feel that politics often hampers the progress of astronomical research.

Despite the delay in the images, 3I/ATLAS has remained intact after a close encounter with the Sun, alleviating earlier fears that it had broken apart. The object is currently on a trajectory toward Jupiter, where NASA’s Juno spacecraft and the European Space Agency’s JUICE mission will monitor its journey as it exits the Solar System in March 2024. This extended observation period offers a rare opportunity for planetary scientists, as interstellar objects typically do not remain accessible for extended study.

While the upcoming HiRISE images might not resolve all debates surrounding 3I/ATLAS, they are expected to narrow down the possibilities and contribute to a better understanding of its composition. Questions remain about whether it is primarily rock, ice, or something altogether more mysterious. Nevertheless, the release of these images could transform 3I/ATLAS from a figure of internet speculation into one of the most thoroughly examined interstellar visitors in history, bringing humanity one step closer to uncovering its true nature.