New photos of the mysterious interstellar object 3I/ATLAS taken from Mars have reignited theories that it could be an alien spacecraft.
NASA’s Perseverance rover recently captured what appears to be a bright, cylindrical object streaking across the Martian sky, a sight some claim proves Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb’s long-standing theory that the object might be an extraterrestrial probe.
However, Loeb quickly offered a less sensational explanation. According to the scientist, the elongated ship-like shape was likely caused by the rover’s camera system stacking hundreds of exposures over roughly ten minutes.
Loeb noted that the Navcam’s long integration time stretched the image into a log-like form rather than showing its true, likely spherical, body. But that hasn’t stopped speculation. Instead, it’s only intensified, with users across social media convinced that the object is some form of alien tech.
Mars images of 3I/ATLAS spark new alien craft theories
Dr. Horace Drew, a retired senior researcher at Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), claims the green glow seen around 3I/ATLAS might not be a typical comet tail, but nickel coating. “The green coma is made of nickel. Aliens may coat their spacecraft with nickel, just as we coat ours,” he argued.
Loeb, who previously suggested 3I/ATLAS could have transmitted a message to Earth decades ago, said he’s particularly excited for upcoming high-resolution images from Mars’ HiRISE camera, which could reveal even more detail.
The new photos come just weeks after 3I/ATLAS survived a violent solar eruption — another event that sparked theories about its durability and artificial origins. NASA, meanwhile, maintains the object is a natural comet passing through the solar system, not an alien craft.
Interestingly, the timing coincides with other major discoveries hinting at possible extraterrestrial activity. NASA recently reported potential evidence of ancient life on Mars.
The agency is also proposing launching nukes at a “city killer” asteroid, an idea some see as early defense prep for an interstellar threat.
For now, the debate over 3I/ATLAS continues to burn bright, much like the object itself streaking across alien skies.
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