In late 2025, astronomers spotted something rare: an object from another star system racing through ours. Named 3I/ATLAS, it became only the third known interstellar visitor ever observed. Now, a new paper co-authored by Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb claims this object may be doing something unusual—it appears to be “wobbling.”

But before we jump to cosmic conclusions, let’s take a closer look at what the researchers actually found—and what it might mean.

What Is 3I/ATLAS?

Most comets come from our own solar system. But interstellar objects like 3I/ATLAS formed around other stars and were later ejected into deep space. Occasionally, one wanders through our neighborhood.

These visitors are scientifically valuable because they carry clues about distant solar systems—like cosmic messengers in a bottle.

In the new study, Loeb and his collaborator analyzed images from the Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based observatories. They focused on bright jets of gas and dust shooting off the comet’s surface. These jets act like tiny flashlights, revealing how the object spins and moves. TA2

Their key finding: the comet’s jets change direction in a repeating pattern about every 7.1 hours. TA2

This repeating shift is what they describe as a “wobble.”

Why Would a Comet Wobble?

Imagine spinning a football. If it spins perfectly, it rotates smoothly. But if it’s slightly uneven, it moves a little. That’s likely what’s happening here.

The researchers suggest that 3I/ATLAS is not spinning smoothly. Instead, it may be in a state called non-principal-axis rotation—a complex motion in which the object spins and wobbles at the same time.

This wobble causes the comet’s jets to move back and forth. Because these jets affect how bright the comet looks, the wobble also creates repeating brightness changes. In simple terms:

• The comet spins.
• The spinTA2le.
• This causes jets to shift direction.
• The shifting jets make the comet appear to brighten and dim in cycles.

This explanation fits well with how many ordinary comets behave.

The Evidence Looks Real—But Not Extraordinary

The study’s strongest point is the consistency of the measurements. The researchers used two independent methods:

• Measuring the direction of the comet’s jets
• Measuring changes in brightness over time

Both methods gave nearly the same result: a period of about 7.1 hours. That agreement strengthens the case that the wobble is real.

However, there’s an important limitation. The light coming from the comet mostly comes from dust and gas—not from the solid object itself. This means scieTA2indirect effects, not the nucleus directly. That makes interpretation harder.

It’s like trying to figure out how a spinning sprinkler moves by watching the water—not the sprinkler head itself.

Who Is Avi Loeb—and Why Does He Get Attention?

Avi Loeb previously served as chair of Harvard’s astronomy department and founded the Galileo Project, which searches for unusual objects and unexplained phenomena in space.

He became famous—and controversial—for suggesting that earlier interstellar object ‘Oumuamua might have been alien technology. Many scientists strongly disagreed with that idea and argued it was most likely a natural comet.

Loeb argues that scientists should remain open-minded and investigate unusual possibilities using data.

Critics counter that extraordinary claims require strong evidence—and that speculation without clear proof risks confusing the public.

This history makes his involvement in any interstellar object instantly newsworthy.

Does This Study Suggest Something Artificial?

No, not directly.

This particular paper focuses on the comet’s rotation and jet motion. It does not claim that 3I/ATLAS is artificial. Instead, it proposes a straightforward explanation: the comet is wobbling due to uneven forces from gas and dust jets.

This is normal comet physics. In fact, other scientists and NASA have stated that 3I/ATLAS behaves like a natural comet overall. So far, there is no clear evidence of anything artificial.

Why This Study Still Matters

Even if the comet is completely natural, this research is valuable. Here’s why:

1. Interstellar Objects Are Rare

Only three have ever been observed. Each one helps scientists learn how other solar systems form.

2. Complex Rotation Reveals Internal Structure

The wobble may reveal details about the comet’s shape, mass distribution, and activity. This helps scientists understand how comets evolve.

3. It Improves Future Detection Methods

As new telescopes come online, scientists expect to find many more interstellar visitors. Understanding their behavior now prepares us for those discoveries.

Reasons to Stay Curious—but Skeptical

This is where scientific thinking matters most. The wobble itself is not controversial. The data supporting it is reasonable. But interpreting unusual objects always requires caution. There are several uncertainties:

• The observations cover a limited time period
• Comets naturally change behavior over time
• Dust and gas can create misleading signals
• Some measurements depend on complex models

None of these invalidate the study, but they do mean the conclusions are not final. Science moves forward by refining ideas over time.

The Bigger Picture: A New Era of Interstellar Discovery

We are entering a new era in astronomy. Future telescopes like the Vera Rubin Observatory are expected to discover many more interstellar objects. Instead of rare curiosities, they may become routine.

That will allow scientists to answer major questions:

• How common are interstellar objects?
• How do they form?
• Are they different from our own comets?

And perhaps most importantly: Are they always natural? For now, every confirmed case—including 3I/ATLAS—appears to have a natural explanation.

The Bottom Line

The new study provides strong evidence that 3I/ATLAS is wobbling with a period of 7.1 hours due to complex rotation.

This is interesting—but not shocking. It fits well with known comet behavior.

Avi Loeb’s involvement ensures attention, but the science itself is careful and grounded in observations.

The real takeaway isn’t aliens.

It’s something quieter—but equally profound: Objects from distant star systems really are visiting us. And for the first time in human history, we can study them.