Comet 3I/ATLAS: separating Fact from Fiction Amidst Online Rumors
WASHINGTON – Recent online claims suggesting a massive comet is on a collision course with Earth are false, according to NASA and independent fact-checkers.The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, currently traversing our solar system, has sparked widespread speculation – fueled by misattributed quotes and an out-of-context interview with physicist Michio Kaku – but poses no threat to our planet.
The surge in misinformation centers around the comet’s arrival and size.While 3I/ATLAS is a rare prospect for scientists to study an object originating from outside our solar system,its trajectory is well-understood and does not include an impact with Earth. The comet’s close approach is providing invaluable data, but anxieties about a potential “city-killer” asteroid are unfounded. This incident underscores the importance of verifying data, particularly regarding space events, through official sources.
Discovered in early 2023, comet 3I/ATLAS became the first confirmed interstellar comet. NASA and the Hubble Space Telescope have been closely monitoring its journey through our solar system. Observations as of August 20, 2025, estimate the comet’s nucleus to be between 1,444 feet (440 meters) and 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) in diameter. Hubble’s continued observations are refining these measurements,offering crucial insights into the composition and structure of interstellar objects.
The false claims gained traction through the circulation of a quote falsely attributed to Dr. Michio Kaku warning of a 2032 impact. Fact-checking association SANAD determined the quote originated from a Febuary 20, 2025, interview with NewsNation, where Kaku discussed the general possibility of asteroid impacts, not specifically 3I/ATLAS. The interview predates the widespread attention on the interstellar comet.
NASA has explicitly stated that 3I/ATLAS does not pose a threat to Earth. “Comet 3I/ATLAS doesn’t pose a threat to Earth, but it does provide NASA scientists and spacecraft with a rare opportunity to study an interstellar comet as it passes through our solar system,” the agency confirmed in a statement released september 30, 2025. Scientists are leveraging this unique event to learn more about the origins of comets and the conditions in other star systems.
