3I/ATLAS, the third-ever interstellar interloper to be recorded after 1I/Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov, has baffled scientists and the average Joe alike ever since its discovery in July 2025. The object, although labeled a comet, defies all conventions. From changing its hues thrice to its peculiar trajectory and surprisingly un-comet-like behavior after its perihelion on October 29 only emboldens the believers who keep their fingers crossed.
Adding more tadka to the ongoing buzz on social media, Professor Avi Loeb, a Harvard astrophysicist, in his recent Medium blog discusses a fresh set of 3I/ATLAS images showing plumes of jets on the comet.
The images were released by astronomers Michael Jäger, G. Rhemann, and E. Prosperi on November 8, 2025. The scientists briefed that the observation was done at 29 degrees elongation from the Sun. During the time of observation, the comet was 9.1 m1 bright and 7-10 degrees above the horizon. They reckon 3I/ATLAS shows “a 5' coma and 4-5 tails or jets: 400” pa 0, 500” pa 316, 900” pa 295, 430” pa 278 and a counter-tail 200" pa 109.”
Remarking on the set of images, Prof Avi Loeb stated
The images show at least 7 distinct jets, some of which are anti-tails in the sunward direction.
He further added
Given that a large number of jets appear in many directions, the reported non-gravitational acceleration of 3I/ATLAS (as discussed here) requires much more than 10–20% of its initial mass to have been ejected near perihelion. Only a fraction of that mass carries an excess momentum in a preferred direction.
This means that the cloud of debris around 3I/ATLAS must represent a substantial fraction of its initial mass for a natural comet. However, technological thrusters could give the object a boost with much less mass jetted out at a higher speed.
Avi poses an interesting query regarding the nature of these jets in his blog, as to whether they are natural or technological:
Is the network of jets associated with pockets of ice on the surface of a natural cometary nucleus or are they coming from a set of jet thrusters used for navigation of a spacecraft?
Prof. Avi says
We do not know
