Social Media Sparks Panic Over Comet 3I/ATLAS Threat

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rumors are surfacing across social media that a giant comet, 3I/ATLAS, is on a collision course with Earth. The comet was detected by NASA‘s ATLAS telescope on July 1, 2025, and some users are claiming that it poses a severe threat to humanity.

The alarm began after an article was published by the New York Post on September 29, stating that the comet is larger than previously thought and could even be linked to alien technology. Some social media users, including accounts like Steven Greenstreet and Dr. Disclosure, have drawn attention to military actions and coordinated international efforts to address this supposed threat.

One post by a user named Richard Roeper claimed the comet is traveling at 130,000 mph and mentioned proposed missions to divert it, using names like “Messiah Crew” and “Freedom Team.” These claims have exacerbated public anxiety regarding the comet’s potential impact.

However, scientific assessments provide a different perspective. NASA and the European Space Agency confirm that 3I/ATLAS poses no threat to Earth. The comet made its closest approach to Earth, approximately 270 million kilometers away, on July 21. Experts maintain that its trajectory and speed indicate it is simply a fascinating interstellar object.

3I/ATLAS will reach closest to the Sun on October 30, 2025, at over 210 million km away, just inside Mars’ orbit. The comet, which is estimated to be around 3.5 miles (5.6 km) in diameter, moves at about 130,500 mph, making it the fastest recorded interstellar visitor.

NASA has emphasized the scientific opportunities that this comet presents for researchers. With advances in telescope technology, scientists can closely observe the comet as it passes our solar system. Hubble’s observations have provided critical data regarding its size and speed.

Though speculation continues to circulate online, the evidence does not support claims of hostility or the comet being an alien probe. Fact-checking organizations like SANAD have verified that quotes attributed to physicist Michio Kaku regarding the comet being potentially hostile were misattributed from an earlier statement.

As 3I/ATLAS continues its journey, researchers from various space agencies are attributing their efforts to study this unique visitor, looking forward to the insights it may provide about the nature of interstellar bodies.