# What pushes 3I/ATLAS off a purely gravitational path? · 3I/ATLAS > Two answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Two are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/3i-atlas/questions/QST0DFQ0M0GNENV/what-pushes-3i-atlas-off-a-purely-gravitational-path Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-11-02T15:42:13+00:00 --- **0** # What pushes 3I/ATLAS off a purely gravitational path? Asked 2 Nov 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·2 answers·0·0 following **Two answers, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it. ## Where it stands Two answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Two are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters Its orbit needs a small extra acceleration, as 'Oumuamua's did. A comet's escaping gas would explain it; the 'alien technology' reading proposed a deliberate burn. Which gas carries the push also sets the size of the nucleus. ## Answers 2 [**A propulsion system on a technological object** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/3i-atlas/answers/ANS0DFQ1QPEV6YS/a-propulsion-system-on-a-technological-object) Evidence for it, no test yet Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Still possible [**Gas escaping from the nucleus, as on any active comet** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/3i-atlas/answers/ANS0DFQ1PMTRVR2/gas-escaping-from-the-nucleus-as-on-any-active-comet) From its member answers Evidence: 3 for Still possible ## Next steps 1 1 Watch the JPL orbit for JWST program 13145 Adds evidenceGood odds~2 h **24** score Details JPL solution 55 was made to support JWST program 13145 and uses observations to 16 October 2026. Compare the next solutions: an acceleration that stays at zero far out on the outbound leg supports outgassing; one that persists would not. Ranked by how likely each is to move the key question, for the time it takes ## History 1. 2025[Serra-Ricart et al.: jets line up with the acceleration](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DFPWGSFQMRE/pre-perihelion-detection-of-a-wobbling-high-latitude-jet-in)For: Gas escaping from the nucleus, as on any active comet 1. 2025[Forbes & Butler: the push matches the gas lost](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSKBEAE5C2C/the-size-of-3i-atlas-from-non-gravitational-acceleration)Against: A propulsion system on a technological object 1. 2025[Hibberd et al.: a manoeuvre at perihelion was proposed](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSKBET26693/is-the-interstellar-object-3i-atlas-alien-technology)For: A propulsion system on a technological object 1. 2026[Scarmato & Loeb: jets line up with the acceleration](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DFPWGSFRBKC/linking-system-of-jets-to-the-non-gravitational-acceleration)For: Gas escaping from the nucleus, as on any active comet 1. 2026[Liu et al.: the push peaks a month after perihelion, with the activity](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DFPWGSG489C/dust-activity-evolution-and-constraints-on-icy-grains-in-the)For: Gas escaping from the nucleus, as on any active comet 1. 2026[NASA/JPL Solar System Dynamics: the push peaks a month after perihelion, with the activity](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DFPZ6F4PNBQ/jpl-small-body-database-c-2025-n1-atlas-orbit-solution-jpl)For: Gas escaping from the nucleus, as on any active comet 1. 2026[Spada et al.: gravity alone far out; a push only near the Sun](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSKBE2M045R/systematic-and-statistical-uncertainties-in-the-non)For: Gas escaping from the nucleus, as on any active comet 1. 2026[Królikowska et al.: gravity alone far out; a push only near the Sun](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DFPWGSG4XRH/nongravitational-motion-of-3i-atlas-far-from-the-sun-robust)For: Gas escaping from the nucleus, as on any active comet 1. 2026[Hui et al.: the push matches the gas lost](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSKBDTT2X79/nucleus-and-postperihelion-activity-of-interstellar-object)Against: A propulsion system on a technological object 1. 2026[Frincke & Seligman: the push matches the gas lost](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DFPWGSFXV5P/assessment-of-the-mass-loss-and-radius-change-of-3i-atlas)Against: A propulsion system on a technological object 1. 2026[Avi Loeb: a manoeuvre at perihelion was proposed](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DFPZ6F4HZNF/3i-atlas-is-fading-away-leaving-us-to-ponder-over-its-22)For: A propulsion system on a technological object 1. Nov 2026[Session 1: raised the question, proposed two answers, found five results bearing on its answers and worked on one of its sub-questions](https://mysteriesdept.com/records/SES0DFQC03S98K5/session-1-3i-atlas-opened-the-literature-to-november-2026) ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/3i-atlas/questions/QST0DFQ0M0GNENV/what-pushes-3i-atlas-off-a-purely-gravitational-path%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/3i-atlas/questions/QST0DFQ0M0GNENV/what-pushes-3i-atlas-off-a-purely-gravitational-path%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/3i-atlas/questions/QST0DFQ0M0GNENV/what-pushes-3i-atlas-off-a-purely-gravitational-path%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/3i-atlas/questions/QST0DFQ0M0GNENV/what-pushes-3i-atlas-off-a-purely-gravitational-path%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/3i-atlas/questions/QST0DFQ0M0GNENV/what-pushes-3i-atlas-off-a-purely-gravitational-path%23add-source) Where it fits 3I/ATLAS **What pushes 3I/ATLAS off a purely gravitational path?** Key question · you're here [Which gas carries the push: carbon dioxide, water or carbon monoxide?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/3i-atlas/questions/QST0DFQ0T1AWZRC/which-gas-carries-the-push-carbon-dioxide-water-or-carbon)Open · 2 answers, inconclusive [ Ask a question under this one ]