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International Business Times
International Business Times
World

Alien Ship Or Interstellar Iceberg? Why 3I/ATLAS Is Not The ET Probe The Internet Hoped For

3I Solar System Extraterrestrial LiveScience NASA Sun the Solar System
A conceptual image of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as it streaks across the night sky.

When astronomers first spotted the fast-moving object 3I/ATLAS hurtling through the solar system in July 2025, speculation erupted online: was it another ʻOumuamua—or even an alien craft?

Months of data from NASA, JWST, and global observatories now provide a clear answer. 3I/ATLAS is indeed interstellar, but it's not extraterrestrial technology—it's a naturally formed, billion-year-old comet from another star system.

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