(TJV NEWS) A Harvard astronomer is once again raising the possibility that an interstellar object approaching Earth might be artificially engineered rather than naturally formed — echoing similar claims he made in 2017 and 2023.

Avi Loeb, chair of Harvard’s astronomy department, told CNN on Thursday that the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, detected by the Deep Random Survey telescope in Chile, could have an alien origin. “The brightness of the object implies a diameter of 20 km, and there is not enough rocky material in interstellar space to deliver such a giant object per decade,” Loeb explained. He added that it would normally take 10,000 years for that much mass to reach the inner solar system.

According to Loeb, the object will make its closest pass when Earth is on the opposite side of the Sun, meaning it will not be directly visible from our planet. NASA and the European Space Agency released an image from the Hubble Space Telescope showing the comet 277 million miles from Earth on July 21, 2025. Loeb noted that this timing would make it “the perfect time for it to maneuver,” suggesting researchers should “just watch it.”

In an unusual observation, Loeb pointed out that the Hubble image shows a glow in front of the object rather than the trailing tail typically seen with comets. “We’ve never seen such a thing,” he said, suggesting it could indicate a non-natural structure. While careful not to definitively label it alien technology, Loeb told The Independent that it does not look like a “very common thing” and argued that humanity should monitor any interstellar objects entering the solar system “to be sure they’re harmless.”

3I/ATLAS drew attention in July after scientists confirmed it originated outside the solar system, making it only the third known interstellar object observed. Scientists estimate it to be more than 12 miles wide.

Loeb’s willingness to propose unconventional explanations is well established. In 2023, he led a team that recovered a meteor from the Pacific Ocean, claiming it contained previously unseen metal alloys possibly of interstellar — or engineered — origin. Many astrophysicists disputed the conclusion.

His most famous claim came in 2017, when the elongated interstellar object ‘Oumuamua was first detected. At the time, Loeb theorized it could be propelled by a “light sail” — a thin structure that uses solar energy for movement — potentially built by an alien civilization. Later studies, reported by The Independent, suggested the object’s unusual acceleration could be explained by hydrogen outgassing, a process common in icy comets. UC Berkeley’s Jennifer Bergner noted that because ‘Oumuamua was so small, even minimal hydrogen release could produce a measurable push.

While the scientific community remains skeptical, Loeb maintains that keeping an open mind about such phenomena is vital. Regarding 3I/ATLAS, he remarked, “[It] may come to save us or destroy us. We’d better be ready for both options and check whether all interstellar objects are rocks.”