Researchers at Harvard and NASA have been closely monitoring 3I/ATLAS in an effort to precisely determine its orbital path.

Early projections indicated a potential close approach to Mars, raising concerns that it might collide with the Red Planet.

Even a relatively small impact could unleash enormous energy, forming large craters and triggering powerful atmospheric shockwaves.

The “Terrifying” Data
Some models suggest that if 3I/ATLAS were on a direct collision course, it could strike Mars with the explosive force of hundreds of nuclear bombs.

Its estimated size—several hundred meters across—makes it larger than most near-Earth asteroids currently under observation.

Fortunately, the majority of simulations indicate that it is likely to pass safely by Mars, though at a distance that is considered cosmically close.