Has 3I ATLAS been photographed from Mars orbit again — does the object look like a glowing cylinder with no signs of a tail or dust?

The story of the 3I/ATLAS interstellar object is getting new twists. This time, the experts' attention was attracted by the footage taken from the orbit of Mars. Several spacecraft, including the European Mars Express and ExoMars TGO, on behalf of the European Space Agency observed the object during its approach to Mars. The resulting images turned out to be unexpected: 3I/ATLAS no longer looks like a familiar comet.

The images taken at the end of September show an elongated glowing cylinder slowly crossing the Martian sky. The object has no distinctive tail, dust trail, or fragmentation — just a smooth structure, like a monolith, emitting a faint greenish-white glow.

These images immediately sparked lively discussions. People began to write on social networks and scientific blogs: if this is a comet, then why did it stop behaving like a comet? It has no emissions, no evaporating matter, just a stable glow and clear outlines.

Scientists carefully explain what is happening. According to experts from the European Space Agency, the observations could have been distorted by the angle of illumination and the features of the atmospheric layers of Mars. But the very fact of the appearance of such unusual shots added intrigue.

3I/ATLAS became the third confirmed interstellar visitor in history after 'Oumuamua and Borisov. But it was this object that gathered the maximum number of oddities.

According to the James Webb Telescope (JWST), its gaseous envelope contains a record amount of carbon dioxide. The ratio of Co₂ to water is about 8 to 1, one of the highest in the history of observations. This means that the object emits carbon dioxide eight times more actively than water vapor. This is atypical for astronomers: most comets exhibit an inverse proportion.

Other observations made with the Swift Space Telescope have detected hydrogen and hydroxyl, traces of evaporating water. Their evaporation rate is estimated at about 40 kilograms per second. But at the same time, about 30% of water ice mixed with dust and refractory particles was found in the composition of the substance. This combination looks contradictory.: There is ice, but it does not create a classic tail.

Another paradox is related to the polarization of light. Polarimetric measurements showed an anomalous result: -2.7% at a phase angle of about 7 °, which exceeds all known limits of the behavior of comets and asteroids. No other object in the Solar System has ever demonstrated such values. This indicates an unusual way of reflecting light — perhaps a dense, metallic, or mirrored surface.

Optical spectra from the Gemini and IRTF telescopes have shown that the reflected light has a "red slope" — an increase in brightness in the red region of the spectrum, which suddenly stops in the near infrared range. This effect is also unusual for natural ice bodies.

As it approached the Sun, 3I/ATLAS began to brighten faster than expected. Forecasts suggested a gradual increase in brilliance, but observations showed a spasmodic increase. This may mean the presence of more volatile substances or processes unrelated to conventional heating.

Let's add dimensions to this. Recent estimates show that the core of 3I/ATLAS is one of the largest interstellar objects discovered in the Solar System. The diameter can reach several kilometers, and the density is assumed to be higher than that of most comets. This explains the almost complete absence of non—gravitational acceleration - the body is too massive for the evaporating gas to noticeably change its trajectory.

The object's orbit is also unique. According to calculations, 3I/ATLAS will pass perihelion on October 29, 2025 at a distance of about 1.4–1.5 AU, that is, between the orbits of Earth and Mars. On October 3, it passed at a distance of about 30 million kilometers from Mars, and it will come closest to Earth on December 19, 2025 — about 274 million kilometers. There is no threat of a collision, but the trajectory turned out to be so accurate that the networks began to build versions of a "controlled course."

Some users see this as a natural coincidence, while others see it as "proof of artificial control." Such discussions have intensified after the appearance of a new Martian image, where the object does not look like a dust comet, but as an even structure.

Astronomers try not to jump to conclusions. According to ESA representatives, during the survey, 3I/ATLAS was under a special lighting angle, which could have prevented the tail from being visible. In addition, Mars passed through a thin layer of dust haze during this period, which could distort the visual shape. But even among experts, they recognize that the object remains unique.

Michio Kaku previously noted that the acceleration of the 3I/ATLAS cannot be explained by conventional forces. He said that the object's behavior requires "a new look at the physics of interstellar bodies." Avi Loeb from Harvard also drew attention to the glow, which resembles a directional light source. His words — "it's got headlamps" - have become a quote that continues to be controversial.

In scientific circles, these expressions are perceived metaphorically, but in online communities they are interpreted literally. Many commentators claim that 3I/ATLAS is not a comet, but some kind of "interstellar probe." This version is especially often returned to after reports that the object does not show dust activity, but remains bright.

Let's add other coincidences to this. Almost simultaneously with 3I/ATLAS, two more unusual celestial bodies are observed — SWAN and Lemmon. They also behave outside the box: SWAN has a gigantic size and a green glow, Lemmon has an abnormal speed and unstable brightness. For some, it's just a coincidence. For others, it's a hint that we're witnessing part of a more complex process.

As long as the object is behind the Sun, ground-based telescopes cannot see it. Therefore, the European Space Agency decided to use Mars orbiters for observation during the solar conjunction period. This is a rare case when planetary apparatuses actually act as observatories.

The images taken at the end of September were the first results of this mission. They were the ones who showed the "cylinder without a tail." The frames are currently being processed and recalibrated to eliminate optical distortion. But the very fact of their existence has given rise to a new wave of speculation.

3I/ATLAS poses no threat to Earth — trajectory calculations have been confirmed by several independent observatories. But the number of anomalies around it is growing. The object does not behave like a typical comet: it has an unusual composition, rare polarization, unpredictable luminescence and a mass that goes beyond the usual parameters.

Some astronomers cautiously admit that if the data is confirmed, 3I/ATLAS could become the most important interstellar object ever to fly through the Solar System. Its behavior contradicts the physics on which our models of comets are based.

While humanity is waiting for him to return from behind the Sun, the main question remains the same: what are we actually observing?

An unusually active comet with a rare composition? A new type of interstellar body? Or something that will force us to rewrite our ideas about who and what moves between the stars.