Congressman and astrophysicist demand answers from NASA about comet 3I/ATLAS: They demand release of photos taken by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter | M.A.G.

Amid the growing mystery surrounding the 3I/ATLAS interstellar object, Florida Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna has appealed to NASA to release data and images that have not yet been released.

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During its approach to the Sun, the 3I/ATLAS interstellar object inexplicably accelerated

36-year-old Luna shared on the social network X a letter addressed to the acting administrator of the space agency, Sean Duffy, the US secretary of transportation.

“I am writing to request the release of specific 3I/ATLAS-related observational data recently acquired by NASA missions.”he said in the document. “This information is critical to our understanding of interstellar visitors and their interactions with our solar system.”

Their request came after the comet showed unusual behavior, such as non-gravitational acceleration and a bluer glow than the Sun itself.

These details led Harvard scientist Avi Loeb to raise the possibility that the object may have an “alien engine.”

In his letter, the lawmaker requested the release of images taken by the HiRISE camera aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter between October 2 and 3. It also requested “additional data” from the Perseverance rover and other Mars missions that could have detected unusual activity near the planet around Oct. 3, 2025, the day 3I/ATLAS traveled about 30 million kilometers (18.6 million miles).

In turn, Loeb accused NASA of refusing to show him a picture taken on October 2 by the HiRISE camera.

According to the astrophysicist, this photo may indicate that the celestial body is not an ordinary comet, as its tail seems to be pointing towards the Sun, and not in the opposite direction, as is usually the case.

Luna also urged the agency to closely monitor the path of the object, which is the third object of interstellar origin detected in our solar system.

“I urge NASA to fund additional observations of 3I/ATLAS through the Juno mission near Jupiter, using all available instruments, including radio sensors.”wrote. “Observations from this perspective can provide valuable information about an object’s composition, trajectory, and interaction with the solar environment.”.

Avi Loeb himself praised Luna’s initiative in a post on Medium, saying: “We all owe him a deep debt of gratitude for the visionary support he gave to advanced science in his letter”.

Meanwhile, other public figures were also interested in the topic: last week, Kim Kardashian asked V.A. NASA director in X about the comet, to which Duffy replied: “Observations indicate that this is the third interstellar comet to pass through our solar system. There are no aliens. There is no threat to life on Earth”.

Loeb criticized the response, noting that Duffy was addressing a “successful businesswoman” rather than a scientist, joking, “Kim Kardashian can join my 3I/ATLAS research team.”

Comet 3I/ATLAS, one of the most intriguing and important astronomical events in recent years

3I/ATLAS is the third confirmed object to originate from outside our solar system, already making it an astronomical discovery of great importance. Its approach to the Sun attracted the attention of experts and astronomy enthusiasts due to its large size and a series of anomalous and unexpected behaviors.

Its unusual characteristics led to the fact that the comet turned from a simple object of study into a phenomenon of discussion. Although most astronomers believe it to be a natural comet with an unusual chemical composition, the anomalies have led some physicists to consider the possibility of an artificial origin.

What is certain is that this interstellar object provides an invaluable opportunity to study material from other star systems that could change what we thought we knew about the formation and evolution of planets and life itself.

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