Pareesa Afreen 
Oct 23, 2025
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Thursday placed an interstellar object named 3I/ATLAS on its official threat list after it showed unusual movement near the Sun.
The object, which vanished momentarily behind the Sun, was said to have reversed its thrust, a behaviour that has left astronomers scratching their heads around the world.
This is the first time the NASA has added an interstellar object to its global tracking system. The space agency made the decision after scientists observed what they call an 'anti-tail', a thrust of particles pointing toward the Sun rather than away, implying reverse propulsion/thrust.
According to the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), a United Nations-backed organisation tracking near-Earth threats, 3I/ATLAS has now been formally added to the Comet Astrometry Campaign.
This campaign is a global programme used to look toward objects that may pose a threat to Earth. The IAWN also indicated they will be conducting a unique planetary defence exercise from November 27, to January 27, 2026, to simulate possible scenarios.
NASA is yet to issue an official press release, as multiple branches of the agency are still closed during the ongoing U.S. government shutdown.
Regardless, experts from around the world, including Harvard University astrophysicist Dr Avi Loeb, have commented that the object's behaviours don't align with known comet behaviours, leading to speculation about possible intelligent origins.
