TikTok Users Claim 3I/ATLAS Comet Shows Alien Presence

The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is at the center of a heated online debate as TikTok users assert that they have captured evidence of an alien spacecraft against the backdrop of the comet’s perihelion on October 30, 2025. As the comet approaches the Sun, video clips claiming to present proof of extraterrestrial activity have gone viral. Hashtags such as #3IATLAS and #AlienSpacecraft have taken over social media, giving rise to a mix of excitement and skepticism among viewers.

In late September 2025, TikTok’s algorithm propelled 3I/ATLAS into the spotlight, with creators sharing shaky footage purporting to show the comet as an enormous alien vessel. One clip has amassed over 5 million views, suggesting the footage reveals a large spacecraft and mentions a NASA-activated planetary defense network. This video, along with others, has sparked extensive discussion, with users analyzing lights and shapes visible in the clips, often attributing erratic glimmers to lens flares or nearby aircraft.

The speculation has drawn comparisons to previous interstellar objects like ʻOumuamua, which also generated significant public interest. The current social media frenzy includes conspiracy theories alleging government cover-ups, with comments such as, “Why hide the truth if it’s just ice?” This backdrop of intrigue has caught the attention of scientists, including Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, who has publicly urged NASA to release high-resolution images of 3I/ATLAS to clarify the situation.

“The politics of the day should not sabotage science. They have the data. They should share it with scientists,” Loeb stated, emphasizing the importance of transparency in scientific discovery.

Astronomers first identified 3I/ATLAS on July 1, 2025, using the ATLAS telescope located in Río Hurtado, Chile. Its hyperbolic trajectory indicates an extrasolar origin, marking it as the third confirmed interstellar object after 1I/ʻOumuamua and 2I/Borisov. Early tracking revealed a nucleus diameter ranging from 440 meters to 5.6 kilometers, encased in a dust cocoon, which was imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope on July 21, 2025.

The James Webb Space Telescope later examined the comet’s coma on August 6, 2025, identifying gases such as carbon dioxide (87%), carbon monoxide (9%), and water (4%) in its plume. These findings, along with additional observations from ESA’s Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter on October 3, 2025, confirm the comet’s natural composition and suggest it has remained unaltered by human activity.

As the comet approaches perihelion, Loeb has rated its technological origin potential as a 4/10 on his scale, highlighting several anomalies he believes warrant further investigation. He cites unusual emissions and a trajectory finely tuned near the orbits of Mars, Venus, and Jupiter, suggesting that the odds of artificial manipulation are less than 0.005%. Loeb posits that the comet’s heating, approximately 770 watts per square meter, could risk its structural integrity.

Despite the theories proposing extraterrestrial involvement, astronomers firmly maintain that the presence of a coma and a distinctive tail indicates the object is a natural comet. “Its path can be explained through known physics regarding icy ejections,” they assert.

As the debate continues and interest grows, amateur astronomers have mobilized, using backyard telescopes to gather more data. They have shared counter-videos that reveal atmospheric distortions, contributing to the ongoing conversation around 3I/ATLAS and its implications for our understanding of the cosmos.

The intersection of scientific inquiry and social media speculation highlights the broader challenges in distinguishing fact from fiction in today’s digital landscape. As the world looks skyward, the fascination with 3I/ATLAS serves as a reminder of our enduring curiosity about life beyond Earth.