Scientists reveal chilling theory on giant space mass hurtling towards Earth

Astronomers are giddy at the potential of a huge mysterious object darting through space. In a report that will excite anyone eagerly awaiting their own E.T. moment, new research does not rule out the sighting being alien spacecraft. The sensational study does not end there, however, as scientists add those behind the wheel may have set their sights on Earth with a November arrival possible.

Experts confirmed the sighting of an unusual interstellar visitor earlier this month. Named 3I/Atlas, it is only the third of its kind ever detected and is speeding through our Solar System at an incredible pace.

A draft scientific paper dated July 22 made a bizarre suggestion the object might be a piece of alien technology planning a surprise assault on our planet. Researchers propose the orbit of 3I/Atlas is such that it would allow an intelligent alien craft to approach Earth undetected.

The report's authors claim that when the object reaches its closest point to the Sun (perihelion) in late November, it will be hidden from Earth's view.

They argue this will enable it to execute a covert high-speed manoeuvre to slow down and remain in the Solar System, which the report authors claim will enable secret preparations for an attack.

In a further outlandish observation, they note that 3I/Atlas follows an unusual trajectory which brings it very close to planets such as Venus, Mars and Jupiter. The report argues this is so unlikely that there is a less than a 0.005% probability of it happening by chance.

One of the authors of the paper, which hasn't been peer-reviewed, is Avi Loeb, a Harvard astrophysicist known for his controversial research and outspoken views on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

He gained widespread attention for suggesting the 2017 interstellar object, known as Oumuamua, might be an artificial probe created by an alien civilisation. His conclusion was based on its unusual acceleration and shape.

His co-authors are Adam Hibberd and Adam Crowl from the Initiative for Interstellar Studies in London. The authors pointed out that their paper is purely hypothetical and not necessarily something they believe to be true.

They write: "This paper is contingent on a remarkable but, as we shall show, testable hypothesis, to which the authors do not necessarily ascribe, yet is certainly worthy of an analysis and a report."

However, they caution in the study: "The consequences, should the hypothesis turn out to be correct, could potentially be dire for humanity, and would possibly require defensive measures to be undertaken (though these might prove futile)."

The study further notes: "The hypothesis is an interesting exercise in its own right and is fun to pursue, irrespective of its likely validity."

The object, now officially named 3I/Atlas (previously known as A11pl3Z), is thought to have originated from a distant star system and is moving at over 60 kilometres per second.

3I/Atlas was first detected on July 1 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey telescope at Río Hurtado in Chile.

Estimates suggest it could be between 10 and 20 kilometres wide, though it may be smaller if composed mostly of reflective ice.