Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
3I/ATLAS, the newly discovered mysterious interstellar object is making its way through the solar system and spacecraft already in flight may be our only chance to gather critical data before it slips behind the Sun.
3I/ATLAS is only the third known interstellar object to pass through our solar system.
In this Event Horizon bonus episode, John Michael Godier speaks with Marshall Eubanks, lead author of the paper “3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1): Direct Spacecraft Exploration of a Possible Relic of Planetary Formation at Cosmic Noon.” They discuss why spacecraft already in flight—such as Psyche, JUICE, and even Mars orbiters—could provide the only opportunity to directly study this mysterious interstellar object before it vanishes back into deep space.
3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1): Direct Spacecraft Exploration of a Possible Relic of Planetary Formation at "Cosmic Noon"
arxiv.org/abs/2508.15768
00:00 – What is 3I ATLAS?
02:45 – Why this interstellar object is unique
06:10 – Origins of 3I ATLAS in the Milky Way’s thick disk
09:25 – What “Cosmic Noon” tells us about planetary formation
13:40 – Why 3I ATLAS is different from Oumuamua and Borisov
17:15 – How close will it pass to the Sun and planets?
21:05 – Spacecraft already in position: Psyche, JUICE, Mars orbiters
26:30 – Can Europa Clipper, Hera, or Lucy sample the tail?
30:55 – The challenges of observing from Earth
34:20 – What science we could gain from a probe flyby
39:45 – Why time is running out to study 3I ATLAS
44:10 – What we could learn about planetary formation and chemistry
49:30 – Astrobiology and the search for organics in 3I ATLAS
53:20 – Why this may be our only chance to learn the truth
YouTube Membership: youtube.com/channel/UCz3qvETKooktNgCvvheuQDw/join
Podcast: hcreators.spotify.com/pod/show/john-michael-godier/subscribe
Apple: apple.co/3CS7rjT
More JMG
youtube.com/c/JohnMichaelGodier
Want to support the channel?
Patreon: patreon.com/EventHorizonShow
Follow us at other places!
@JMGEventHorizon
Music:
stellardrone.bandcamp.com
migueljohnson.bandcamp.com
leerosevere.bandcamp.com
aeriumambient.bandcamp.com
FOOTAGE:
NASA
ESA/Hubble
ESO - M.Kornmesser
ESO - L.Calcada
ESO - Jose Francisco Salgado (josefrancisco.org)
NAOJ
University of Warwick
Goddard Visualization Studio
Langley Research Center
Pixabay
3I/ATLAS, the newly discovered mysterious interstellar object is making its way through the solar system and spacecraft already in flight may be our only chance to gather critical data before it slips behind the Sun.
3I/ATLAS is only the third known interstellar object to pass through our solar system.
In this Event Horizon bonus episode, John Michael Godier speaks with Marshall Eubanks, lead author of the paper “3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1): Direct Spacecraft Exploration of a Possible Relic of Planetary Formation at Cosmic Noon.” They discuss why spacecraft already in flight—such as Psyche, JUICE, and even Mars orbiters—could provide the only opportunity to directly study this mysterious interstellar object before it vanishes back into deep space.
3I/ATLAS (C/2025 N1): Direct Spacecraft Exploration of a Possible Relic of Planetary Formation at "Cosmic Noon"
arxiv.org/abs/2508.15768
00:00 – What is 3I ATLAS?
02:45 – Why this interstellar object is unique
06:10 – Origins of 3I ATLAS in the Milky Way’s thick disk
09:25 – What “Cosmic Noon” tells us about planetary formation
13:40 – Why 3I ATLAS is different from Oumuamua and Borisov
17:15 – How close will it pass to the Sun and planets?
21:05 – Spacecraft already in position: Psyche, JUICE, Mars orbiters
26:30 – Can Europa Clipper, Hera, or Lucy sample the tail?
30:55 – The challenges of observing from Earth
34:20 – What science we could gain from a probe flyby
39:45 – Why time is running out to study 3I ATLAS
44:10 – What we could learn about planetary formation and chemistry
49:30 – Astrobiology and the search for organics in 3I ATLAS
53:20 – Why this may be our only chance to learn the truth
YouTube Membership: youtube.com/channel/UCz3qvETKooktNgCvvheuQDw/join
Podcast: hcreators.spotify.com/pod/show/john-michael-godier/subscribe
Apple: apple.co/3CS7rjT
More JMG
youtube.com/c/JohnMichaelGodier
Want to support the channel?
Patreon: patreon.com/EventHorizonShow
Follow us at other places!
@JMGEventHorizon
Music:
stellardrone.bandcamp.com
migueljohnson.bandcamp.com
leerosevere.bandcamp.com
aeriumambient.bandcamp.com
FOOTAGE:
NASA
ESA/Hubble
ESO - M.Kornmesser
ESO - L.Calcada
ESO - Jose Francisco Salgado (josefrancisco.org)
NAOJ
University of Warwick
Goddard Visualization Studio
Langley Research Center
Pixabay
