Are internet rumours of a comet hurtling towards Earth true? | Space News

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Rumours throughout social media platforms that a large comet is on a collision course with Earth have been circulating, with some customers describing it as a significant risk to humanity.

Others are debating how the comet – generally known as 3I/ATLAS and detected by NASA’s ATLAS telescope on July 1 – is likely to be diverted from the Earth. Some have even gone as far as to focus on “information” of army actions and a world coordination to counter the comet earlier than affect, prompting additional alarm.

So is there any reality to those rumours and what do we all know for certain?

When and the way did rumours concerning the comet begin?

Rumours started spreading after the New York Submit printed a narrative on September 29 beneath the headline: “‘Large’ comet hurtling towards us is bigger than beforehand thought, could possibly be alien tech, scientist says: ‘It might change the whole lot for us’.”

Customers on X (previously Twitter) circulated screenshots of the article to help their claims. One account, beneath the identify Steven Greenstreet, wrote: “Scientists say an enormous alien spaceship is hurtling in direction of Earth. Why aren’t extra individuals speaking about this?”

One other account referred to as Dr Disclosure reposted the story, including: “For this reason all of the generals are gathering!” – a reference to a September 30 meeting of US military leaders chaired by Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth. That put up racked up greater than half 1,000,000 views.

In the meantime, an account beneath the identify Richard Roeper shared his considerations: “An enormous comet is reportedly hurtling towards Earth at 130,000 mph! Can we cease it? I’m informed there are two missions within the works – one involving the specifically chosen “Messiah Crew,” and one using two squads, generally known as the Freedom Staff and the Independence Staff. We obtained this.”

Why do some individuals declare it’s an alien plane?

Hypothesis escalated, with some accounts suggesting the item was not a comet in any respect however actually a spacecraft heading in direction of Earth.

An account beneath the identify Lord Bebo shared statements falsely attributed to US physicist Michio Kaku, claiming the item was on the best way “to conduct a reconnaissance mission, presumably with hostile intent”. The put up, accompanied by an edited screenshot of a tv interview with Kaku and the caption, “It is likely to be an ALIEN probe despatched to Earth” garnered greater than 290,000 views and dozens of feedback.

Equally, one other account referred to as Astronomy Vibes instructed: “Whereas most scientists agree it’s possible an odd comet, a number of daring voices recommend it is likely to be one thing extra – possibly even an engineered probe from one other civilization.” No proof was supplied.

So, what are the details?

Al Jazeera’s fact-checking company, SANAD, investigated the claims concerning the comet generally known as 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar object, to find out whether or not it actually poses any actual risk to Earth or might even be a hostile probe.

The comet was actually detected by NASA’s ATLAS telescope on July 1, 2025. NASA, which describes it as having “a teardrop-shaped cocoon of mud coming off its strong, icy nucleus”, confirmed that it poses no hazard to Earth. It famous that the closest it has come to the Earth was about 270 million kilometres (167.8 million miles) on July 21.

The European Area Company (ESA) additionally confirmed that the comet poses no risk to Earth or to some other planet, explaining that its closest distance was greater than 2.5 occasions that between Earth and the Solar.

Based on NASA, the comet will attain its closest method to the Solar on October 30, 2025. At that time, it is going to be about 210 million km (130.5 million miles) from the solar, simply contained in the orbit of Mars.

This can be a important comet, nevertheless. Based on the Hubble Area Telescope, it’s travelling at about 210,000 kilometres per hour (130,500 miles per hour) – the quickest velocity ever recorded for a “customer” to our photo voltaic system.

NASA stated the comet presents a uncommon alternative for scientists to review an interstellar “customer” because it passes by means of the photo voltaic system.

“Hubble’s persevering with observations enable astronomers to extra precisely estimate the scale of the comet’s nucleus,” the company stated in an announcement. “Observations as of August 20, 2025, point out that the higher restrict on its diameter is 3.5 miles (5.6 km), although it could possibly be as small as 1,444ft (440 metres) throughout.”

As for the quotes attributed to physicist Michio Kaku, SANAD discovered no proof supporting them. The picture circulating on-line was taken from an older interview with US outlet Nation Information on February 20, 2025 – months earlier than the invention of 3I/ATLAS.



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