NASA Faces Growing Scrutiny Over Missing Images of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS
The space community and the public are eagerly waiting for NASA to release the highly anticipated images of the rare interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS, only the third confirmed object of its kind to traverse our solar system. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) captured detailed photographs of the comet during its close pass by Mars in early October 2025, representing one of the first times humanity has directly imaged an interstellar visitor. But here's where it gets controversial: these images, taken around October 2-3, remain unseen by the public.
The delay is officially attributed to the federal government shutdown that began on October 1, which temporarily furloughed NASA staff and put a halt on data processing, review, and public communication. While most experts see this as a straightforward bureaucratic delay, online speculation has stirred conspiracy theories suggesting NASA might be withholding the images due to potential evidence of extraterrestrial activity—claims that mainstream scientists have strongly rejected.
Comet 3I/ATLAS was first detected on July 1, 2025, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). As it journeyed closer to the Sun, it displayed subtle non-gravitational acceleration, appearing to slightly adjust its trajectory—behavior reminiscent of previous interstellar objects. Major telescopes, including Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope, have observed it, yet astronomers are still waiting for the high-resolution data from MRO and the Perseverance rover, collected during the comet's flyby of Mars on October 6.
Pressure on NASA to release the images increased after Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) sent a formal request to Acting Administrator Sean Duffy on October 31, urging the agency to make the data public. "This information is crucial for advancing our understanding of interstellar visitors and how they interact with our solar system," Luna wrote. She highlighted that MRO's HiRISE camera captured images with a resolution of about 19 miles per pixel—roughly three times sharper than the best Hubble images taken on July 21. "The brightest pixel in these images will offer our most accurate measurement of the object's size to date."
Luna's request also sought disclosure of any additional data from Mars missions that might have detected unusual activity near Mars when the comet was about 18.6 million miles away. This request extended to observations from the Parker Solar Probe, Juno, and other missions, as well as historical data on "candidate interstellar meteors." She cited a 2014 interstellar meteor near Papua New Guinea with inconsistent entries in NASA's Center for Near Earth Objects database, emphasizing that clarification would support ongoing research and transparency in the scientific community.
Outside of government circles, Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb has called for NASA to release the MRO images, arguing that open access would allow astronomers to plan follow-up studies. "Science should not be held hostage by shutdown politics," Loeb wrote in a recent blog post. He has previously suggested that 3I/ATLAS might not be a natural object due to its unusual characteristics—a point he reiterated during a podcast with Joe Rogan.
The comet has even sparked public curiosity and social media buzz. Kim Kardashian tweeted, "Wait...what's the tea on 3I ATLAS?" prompting a swift response from Duffy: "NASA's observations show that this is the third interstellar comet to pass through our solar system. No aliens. No threat to life here on Earth." Loeb humorously invited Kardashian to join his research team, showing just how far this story has captured public imagination.
Comet 3I/ATLAS reached its closest point to the Sun on October 30, roughly 130 million miles away, and will make its nearest approach to Earth on December 19, 2025, at about 170 million miles—posing no risk of impact. Loeb has catalogued several anomalies that set 3I/ATLAS apart from ordinary comets: its trajectory is within about five degrees of the ecliptic plane, it produced an unusual sunward jet, its composition is high in nickel but low in water, and its path is close to the 1977 "Wow!" radio signal. Additionally, its nucleus is remarkably massive compared to other interstellar visitors.
As 3I/ATLAS continues its journey through the solar system, both scientists and the general public are eagerly awaiting the release of the MRO images. These photographs could shed light on one of the most unusual and intriguing celestial objects ever observed, and perhaps answer questions that have fascinated astronomers—and the public—alike. But here's the question everyone is asking: Will NASA release the images soon, or will bureaucracy and speculation continue to cloud one of the most exciting astronomical events of the decade?
About the Author:
Ariana is the assistant news editor at Chron, focusing on space, wildlife, and unusual events in Texas. Previously, she covered community and breaking news at the Austin American-Statesman for three years. She earned her B.A. in Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin in 2017 and enjoys watching horror films, tending to her plants, and spoiling her dogs.
