Velapanti Diaries – 8

EXTRATERRESTRIAL INTELLIGENCE & 3I/ATLAS

“There is no force more *powerful or obstinate* than human conviction, that may willingly believe in an omnipresent extraterrestrial entity, God; and yet term as rationale, its dogged refusal to countenance the presence of intelligent life form other than terrestrial.” – Col RS Sidhu

 

The Nomenclature

Anything organic or inorganic, animate or inanimate, matter or energy, form or formless, which is not of earth origin maybe termed as *extraterrestrial*.

Any object that orbits the sun and is bound by its gravitational pull, maybe termed as *solar system body*.

Any location, event, or movement amongst the stars maybe termed as *interstellar*.

Any location, event, or movement between two or more galaxies, maybe termed as *intergalactic*.

A *comet* maybe defined as a small celestial object that has a nucleus of ice and dust, that produces a ‘tail’ of gas and dust that points away from the sun. It maybe of ‘solar system’ or ‘interstellar’ origin.

An *asteroid* is a small rocky object that orbits the sun.

A *meteoroid/meteor/meteorite* is a smaller asteroid, termed as meteoroid while orbiting the sun, designated as a meteor when it enters the orbit of the earth, and called a meteorite if it survives its fiery entry into the atmosphere of the earth to touch its surface.

*Elliptical orbit* is a closed loop, repetitive, oval shaped path with varying speed, that is followed by a body moving around another body.

*Parabolic orbit* is the path followed by an object, that is open at both ends of the trajectory, is non-repetitive, and with near constant speed.

*Hyperbolic orbit* is the trajectory followed by an object, with adequate velocity to escape the gravitational field of the central object it is orbiting.

*Orbital eccentricity* determines the amount by which an orbit deviates from a perfect circle. A circular orbit has a value of 0, an elliptic orbit has value between 0 and 1, a parabola orbit has a value of 1, while a hyperbola orbit has a value of greater than 1.

*Astronomical Unit* (AU) represents the average distance between the Earth and the Sun, that is 149,597,870.7 kms.

*3I/ATLAS* is the name given to the third known interstellar object to have entered the solar system, wherein the number 3 denotes it’s the third object, the letter I indicates its Interstellar origin, and ATLAS is the acronym for Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, the program that first detected this object.

Power and Limitations of Rationalism

It took humanity 2000 years to progressively rationalise the understanding of the solar system from *geocentric* to *heliocentric*. But, even 500 years down the timeline, human society is yet to come to terms with the presence of an Extraterrestrial Intelligent (ETI), or a Non-Human Intelligence (NHI).

The Irony of Human Thought

Out of a current world population of 8.2 billion, more than 80% firmly believe in the existence of a Superior Being or Power that is omnipresent, omnipotent, and all knowing. That this belief in God persists, and is openly voiced and promoted, despite uncertain provenance, is the most interesting aspect of human rationalism.

But were the same rationalists to be asked about the existence of Non-Human Intelligence (NHI), the answer most likely will be met with profound silence, at best; or answered unequivocally in the negative.

Both the ideas are premised on an uncertain provenance but evoke contradictory response and emotions. Investigating this aspect would be a psychologist’s treasure trove.

Recorded Extraterrestrial Visitations

The first recorded interstellar object to enter the solar system was 1I/ 2017 UI in October 2017 and nicknamed ‘Oumuamua’. It was roughly 400 mtr long, with a 1:10 breadth is to length ratio, moving at a speed of 26 km/s while entering the solar system. It entered the solar system from the direction of Lyra constellation.

It was followed by 2I/Borisov in August 2019. It was assessed to be 0.5 kms in diameter, and entered the solar system moving at a speed of 32 km/s. 2I/Borisov entered the Solar System from the direction of Cassiopeia. It experienced partial nucleus fragmentation during its flypast the Sun.

3I/ATLAST is the third recorded Interstellar object, and was first observed entering the solar system, in June 2025, by the NASA funded ATLAS project, located in Chile. It has entered the solar system from the direction of Sagittarius constellation, that lies at the centre of the Milky Way galaxy, at a speed of 58 km/s. It is expected to exit the solar system around January 2026.

Relevant Comparative Data

When entering the solar system, Oumuamua, the first interstellar object to enter the solar system, was recorded moving at a speed of 26 km/s, the second 2I/Borisov entered with a speed of 32 km/s, while 3I/ATLAS on entry was moving at a phenomenal speed of 58 km/s.  

The orbital eccentricity of Oumuamua was 1.2, that of 2I/Borisov was 3.4, and of 3I/ATLAS its 6.137. The extremely high orbital eccentricity of 3I/ATLAS makes it appear closer to a straight line rather than curved.

The size of the cigar shaped Oumuamua has been estimated at between 100 to 400 mtrs in length, while 2I/Borisov was assessed with a diameter of 0.5 kms. 3I/ATLAS in comparison is estimated to be possessing a diameter of 5 kms, making it ten times larger than 2I/Borisov and approximately 25 times larger than Oumuamua.

Oumuamua, 2I/Borisov and 3I/ATLAS have displayed acceleration anomalies indicating non-gravitational acceleration characteristics during different stages of their trajectory within the solar system.

Oumuamua approached the solar system from the direction of the Lyra constellation, and 2I/Borisov entered the solar system from the direction of Cassiopeia constellation. Both these star constellations lie above the Northern hemisphere relative to Earth. On the other hand, 3I/ATLAS approached from the direction of Sagittarius constellation, that is the Southern hemisphere relative to Earth.

Commentary

The arrival of 3I/ATLAS in the solar system has reignited the debate on presence of ETI/NHI, which was first induced by arrival of Oumuamua in 2017.

The most interesting, or shall we say curious, coincidence that can be discerned is the progressive increase in the relative performance characteristics displayed by the three interstellar objects; as if each was an improved model of the previous version.

Oumuamua, the first to arrive in the solar system, was the slowest, the smallest, and with the least orbital eccentricity. 3I/ATLAS, the latest interstellar object to enter the solar system, is the fastest, the largest, and having the highest orbital eccentricity.

Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov entered the solar system from the Northern Hemisphere, relative to Earth; whereas, 3I/ATLAS, the latest to arrive, entered from the Southern Hemisphere, relative to Earth, thus surprising the astronomic observers.

Several solar system bodies, including comets, have been investigated by successfully landing probes on their surface as they flypast the Earth. However, the movement velocity of the interstellar objects, and their distance from the Earth, in conjunction with time available, makes it impossible to launch a probe to further investigate them. The relative size of the three interstellar objects, their distance from the Earth, and the state of technological advancements on Earth, precludes their early detection. Their arrival was detected only when they were well within the solar system. Oumuamua was detected only when it was 0.22 AU from Earth; 2I/Borisov was discovered at 3.7 AU from Earth; while 3I/ATLAS was discovered at 3.5 AU from Earth.

The nearest approach to the Sun by Oumuamua was 0.26 AU, while its closest approach to Earth was 0.22 AU. For 2I/Borisov the relative figures are 2 AU, in respect of both the Sun and the Earth. While for 3I/ATLAS these figures are 1.4 AU and 1.8 AU, respectively.  

It is also an interesting coincidence, that the famous but inconclusive, 72 seconds ‘Wow’ radio signal detected on 15 August 1977 by ‘Big Ear’ radio telescope of Ohio State University Radio Observatory, US under a Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project, had originated from the direction of the Sagittarius constellation; the direction of approach of the 3I/ATLAS interstellar object.

The three interstellar objects have displayed acceleration anomalies that suggest non-gravitational acceleration characteristics.

What the Stars Foretell

Current science faces an unenviable dilemma. It needs proof to verify existence of theorised phenomenon beyond human understanding, but does not possess mathematical foundations and technology to detect, record, and interpret data relevant to establish provenance of their assumptions. This stumps scientific attempts to enhance its *Understanding of Things*, as *absence of evidence is not evidence of absence*!  

The visitation by 3I/ATLAS, and its two interstellar predecessors, cannot be viewed in isolation. For a realistic and objective analysis it needs to be assessed in conjunction with parallel developments in the field of ‘Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon’ (UAP) and presence of ETI/NHI.

Strong probability exists that the decision to hold the US House Oversight subcommittee on National Security, Border and Foreign Affairs public hearings in 2023 and again in 2025 on the subject of UAP, may itself have been influenced to a certain extent by the visitation of the Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov interstellar objects in 2017 and 2019.  

During these open hearings, the ex-US military and intelligence personnel in their testimony have assessed the probable aim of the UAP as reconnaissance, surveillance, and monitoring of capabilities.  

Three interstellar objects detected in eight years against none detected earlier, progressive increase in the relative performance characteristics of these celestial objects, they following a trajectory immune to terrestrial interception, is a phenomenon that is difficult to explain by the law of mathematical probability.

That the latest interstellar visitation comes at a time of transformational changes on earth on the climatic, geoeconomic, and geopolitical fronts, and humanity is at the dawn of a new race to colonise the stars, is itself quite revealing.

As Christianity awaits the promised ‘Second Coming’; the Islamic Ummah prepares to receive the ‘Mehdi’; and Sanatan Dharm readies to welcome the ‘Kalki Avatar’; the arrival of the next 4I/? in 2027 may well turn it into the ‘Year of Destiny’ for humankind and the Earth…