Maybe you have seen one of the alarming videos or emails circulating around the internet claiming that the End is Nigh. The claim is that an enormous dinosaur-killer of an asteroid is going to smash into the Earth sometime between 15-28 September 2015. The scary predictions say that the asteroid will come down in the Atlantic Ocean near Puerto Rico, causing a 300ft tsunami and a Magnitude 12 earthquake which will lay waste to the eastern seaboards of the USA, Mexico and central and southern American nations (European nations will be devastated, specifically Spain, Holland and England, too). Thirty million lives will be lost in the month after the impact, and 40 million more are destined to die from plagues and in civil disorder in the following seven months. Is this terrifying vision of the future going to happen? Unsurprisingly the answer is absolutely no. This prediction is false.
(UPDATE: As nothing happened in September some people are now claiming that an asteroid will impact the Earth in December 2015. This new prediction is also false.)
![Radar imagery of asteroid Toutatis taken by NASA's Goldstone Solar System Radar in December 2012. The orbit of Toutatis is well understood. An analysis indicates there is zero possibility of an Earth impact over the entire interval over which its motion can be accurately computed, which is about the next four centuries. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)](http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/image-of-toutatis.jpg)
Radar imagery of the near Earth asteroid Toutatis taken by NASA’s Goldstone Solar System Radar in December 2012. Thanks to studies like this the orbit of Toutatis is well understood. There is zero possibility of this asteroid hitting Earth over the entire interval over which its motion can be accurately computed, which is about the next four centuries. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
This prediction is not based on science. No known asteroid or comet is on a collision course with Earth. I am only writing about this nonsensical claim because over the years I have learned that there are people who become genuinely distressed and anxious by false predictions of disaster like this. (If you are very worried by this false story and in live in the UK, why not call AnxietyUK on 08444 775774 to discuss your concerns with a sympathetic listener? Similarly if you live in the USA, there are resources listed on the ADAA website that you may find helpful.)
The claim that this doomsday asteroid is heading our way apparently originated from one Reverend Efrain Rodriguez who has since 2010 promoted in videos and interviews his belief that this forthcoming disaster has been divinely revealed to him. Rodriguez does not claim to have discovered the asteroid or to have calculated its orbit, contending instead that its approach was supernaturally announced to him. He says
“God showed me a large rock, an Asteroid, entering the airspace of the town of Arecibo in Puerto Rico, and exiting Mayagez, heading to the ocean. This will be at2am. This rock will be making impact in the sea between the island of Mona and Mayagez. It will hit an active earthquake fault found in that area of the Caribbean, causing a very strong 12 point earthquake that has never been seen. 12 degrees means the Presence of God on the Earth.“
He sent NASA a letter in November 2012 outlining his bleak view of the future but received no response. I imagine it was filed under G for Garbage. Rodriguez says that world governments are aware of the approaching menace but are cynically going to evacuate their leaderships to safety without warning the general populace because a population reduction suits their globalist political agenda. However Rodriguez also disapprovingly says that the USA is planning to try to avert disaster:
“They are preparing spacecrafts to receive and destroy the asteroid upon arrival to Earth. Also, Obama sent about 40 missiles to PR [Puerto Rico], to try to destroy the asteroid in the sky, so that it may fall on Puerto Rico, and not at sea. The prophet of God Efrain warned them not to press the Buttons “Do No do it!” he said. “Do Not interfere with the plans of the Lord.”
In reality, no such spacecraft or missiles exist. His belief that even attempting to save millions of human lives is wrong says much about Rev. Rodriguez and his theology. He seems to preach a grim gospel of despair, offering no future but misery to his congregations.
To be fair to Rodriguez, he seem to have disassociated himself from the September 2015 dates, but these are being promoted by his followers notably someone operating under the name “Light of Mary”. Rodriquez professes that the impact is definitely coming but he cannot say exactly when (except that the impact will occur at 2am and there will be a full Moon in the sky). A lunar eclipse (which is not called a “blood moon”) will be visible over the Americas and western Europe on 28 September 2015 (for more on this amazing spectacle- you should go outside and watch it- see our article The Truth About the Blood Moon Tetrad) and some disaster hoax proponents declare this to be ominous but this is, like all prophesies of doom linked to eclipses, merely superstitious nonsense.
It is significant that Rodriguez has in the past stated precise dates for his apocalypse (in 2013 and 2014) but these have passed by without incident. Rodriguez has also predicted other events, notably the death of one his critics, but none of these have happened either. Rev. Rodriguez is unsure of the disaster’s timing but is certain of its location. According to him Puerto Rico is to be devastated because of its (in his view) uniquely sinful society. In his own words:
“Puerto Rico will be the epicenter of Jehovah’s wrath. The island is polluted with sin, adulterers parade in churches, pastors just want tithes and offerings“
![The day the dinosaurs died. (Image credit: Don Davis/NASA)](http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Meteorite-impact-in-earths-early-history-credit-Don-Davis-NASA.jpg)
An artist’s depiction of the impact 65 million years ago which ended the reign of the non-avian dinosaurs. Nothing like this is predicted for the near future. (Image credit: Don Davis/NASA)
Despite his hopeless message and failed prophesies, Rodriguez has many followers worldwide who have proclaimed him to be a prophet and compare him to Noah and Abraham. Rev. Rodriguez makes no secret of his strong political opinions (he seems to intensely dislike President Obama) which are heavily featured in his proclamations. Thanks to the currently remarkably toxic and irrational political climate in the USA this has meant his views have been even more widely circulated by people who may not believe in his apocalyptic visions but want to promote his paranoid-seeming current affairs agenda.
Among many unusual declarations from Rodriguez are his support for claims that guillotines have been procured for future executions of those who criticise President Obama and that thousands of French, German, Russian and Chinese soldiers are already stationed in Puerto Rico with the intention of seizing control from the local authorities after the disaster (surely if Rodriguez is correct about the impact zone, Puerto Rico would be among the worst places to base this invasion force…) Ridiculous as these may sound, unfortunately thousands of people seem to take these seriously. Deliberately adding to the confusion were other lying emails and YouTube videos alleging that “Jade Helm“, a US military exercise scheduled for 15 July to 15 September 2015, was really a cover for disaster preparations. The military finished and packed up their gear on 15 September without incident.
![Arecibo Observatory radar images of asteroid 1992 UY4, which has a diameter of 2 kilometers, made from four days observation in August 2005. (Image credit: Lance Benner/Jet Propulsion Laboratory)](http://www.armaghplanet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/arecibo_asteroids.jpg)
The giant radio telescope at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico has an important role in studying near Earth objects. Here are radar images of 2km wide asteroid 1992 UY4 made from four days observation from Arecibo in August 2005. (Image credit: Lance Benner/Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
Of course there is a very, very small chance that in the near future a dangerous impact could occur. Astronomers around the world know of 1593 Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) at the time of writing. This may sound an alarming large number but the criteria to be put on the list is very wide. PHAs are broadly defined as all asteroids 150 m (500 ft) or more in diameter which could come within 0.05 au (about 7.5 million km or 4.65 million miles) of Earth. This distance is about twenty times the distance from the Earth to the Moon.
Objects on the PHA list are monitored and the details of their orbits refined to predict the possibility of close approaches to Earth. One asteroid on the PHA list, 2014 UR116, has been linked by some parties to Rodriguez’s false prediction. Discovered by Russian scientists, asteroid2014 UR116 poses no impact threat to Earth (or any other planet) for at least the next 150 years.
Other asteroids, 2012 TT5 and 2015 GA14, have been untruthfully named by some websites and newspapers (whose editors should be ashamed of themselves) as possible impacting objects in September 2015. Again these tales are incorrect, on 23 September 2015 GA14 will pass about 0.2 au (1au=93 million miles or 150 million km) of Earth, so it will miss Earth by 30 million km! On 24 September 2015 2012 TT5 will come to about 0.055 au of Earth, so it is going to miss Earth by 5 million miles! During this “close approach” 2012 TT5 will be twenty times further than the Moon from the Earth. Sadly one website which I refuse to link to or publicize has claimed that NASA has marked 2012 TT5 as 6 on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale . This is false, all known objects (as of early September 2015) are rated at o on the Torino Scale (=”the likelihood of a collision is zero, or is so low as to be effectively zero”) .
No comets or asteroids are currently known to be on orbits which will ever cause them to collide with Earth.
Compared with other natural disasters such as earthquakes and severe storms, the hazard from asteroid or comet impacts is small.
Reverend Rodriguez has no known scientific qualifications or connections. His prophesy of disaster is nonsense and appears largely based on his religious and political prejudices. Science has not predicted that a giant asteroid or comet is going to devastate Earth this September. If anyone sends you an email or a link to a video about this foolishness read or watch them if you really want but please do not take them seriously. The people who spread this sort of stuff ought to be ashamed of themselves.
(UPDATE: As nothing happened in September some of the supporters of Reverend Rodriguez are now claiming that an asteroid will impact the Earth in December 2015. Once again this new prediction is false.)
You might also find this video interesting.
You may also be interested in our other articles covering false predictions of comet disasters. Just read the comments to see how afraid or angry some people were about these back then, yet nothing happened and we are still here:
10 Things You Need to Know About Comet ISON
10 Facts You Need to Know About Comet Elenin
(Article by Colin Johnston, Science Education Director. Updated 9 November 2015. Quotes from Rev. Rodriguez used above found at www.heavenvisit.com/Efrain_Rodriguez.php )
IMPORTANT-IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THIS POST:
Please keep your comments polite, brief and on topic. Before asking a question please read the article again as well as the comments as your query may already have been addressed. Do not include telephone numbers, email addresses or other personal details. This is not an appropriate forum to make lengthy declarations of your religious or political beliefs or to promote your theories about science, history or current affairs. Publication of a comment does not mean that Armagh Planetarium supports or endorses it. Posts containing language judged threatening or insulting will not be published – ADMIN
I’m from England which is in Europe so I care
(Edited for language-ADMIN)
Dear Lewis, thanks for your comment. I’m sorry my snarky tone about Rev. Rodriguez’s apparent lack of concern for people living outside his continent annoyed you. We are based in Northern Ireland which is also in Europe.
Update: I have now found out that Rodriguez does actually claim that Spain, Holland and England will be devastated for what he regards as their sinful natures. I have amended the article to reflect this.
I dont know of comets hitting earth in September, but I do know God dont lie his word stand and all that is going is of his word and it has 2 happen rather we want 2 accept believe wanna know whatever it has 2 happen because of sin the things going on around us its all connected 2 Wat the tru word says will be going on n how it will go but his coming the end as we think or should I say know we dont know the day r hour but signs will be given 4 us 2 look 4 n a Lt of them happened r is happening right b4 our eyes…..love,faith believing accepting n tru repentance n standing by the only 10 laws giving 2 all man is the only way in2 heaven AMEN!!!!!!, THE COMET I DONT KNOW BUT IT CAN
Dear Redonlyknotruth, thank you for your comments. Please note that we have only the word of people to say this event will happen. Sadly people frequently (unknowingly or not) tell untruths.
I agree taht people spread lies often, but I also agree that I think I saw a comet at 11th september when I was in my car. Though I’m not that elder and understand these all matters much but I think it’s better not to scare people.And I obiviously trust in this article and i also believe that no asteoroids are gonna hit us, may Allah bless us.
If you are a Christian and a believer I will tell you only this, in case you still believe in these false profets of the Apocalipse:
“But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” (Mark 13:32).
So… Relax. If someone says he knows when the end will come, he is definitely a liar or has fallen under the influence of The Evil One. For, as God tells us in his Holy Book, no one knows WHEN THAT DAY will come.
Amen!
You are a teacher and a saint just for quoting the truth of Gods word. Amen
an asteroid big enough to destroy life only impacts every 100 million years which by that time well probably leave this planet and who knows what.
dear i think their will nothing happen in earth i think this planet appear from east to west with a long tail and all world will see that will be a sign?
Dear Inaam, and when this does not happen, what will you think then?
Furthermore, we also HAVE THE WORD OF GOD Who Says :
Ezekiel 33:11
“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.”
Ours is a God of love. Why would he want his children to die? For he does not! He wants us to repent. And in order to do that he wants us to live. So… No, God is not going to kill us.
That is said, putting aside the mere scientific fact that NO celestial bodies are on a collision course to Earth.
Why did God at the Time of Moses killl the babies and the children of Pharoe. What Angel of Gods is so dark to kill children not blessed by the blood of the lamb. That Angel still suffers.War is war even in Gods world.
Please don’t be ignorant. Here’s a small list of events that will happen predicated upon the event that happens prior.
1. A small group of people want to start a country.
2. They band together and go seek out land.
3. All the land is taken so they look for the evilest scumbags you can imagine, folks who put children in the molten hands of an idol as sacrifice, for instance.
4. They take over this land but allow the people to live.
5. The people revolt, and many who were children at the time seek revenge.
6. They all band together with that new countries enemies and obliterate new country from existence.
How do you stop step 6 from coming to pass? Yeah, you already have the answer. God didn’t always proclaim they had to kill all of their enemies, but when he does, and they don’t listen, there are stories in the bible that give details on how it comes back to bite them. God doesn’t shoot rainbows from his eyes to make things happen. He uses science. Math. Music. Knowledge of the future. Michio Kaku said it best. “Math is the mind of God”.
Sodom and Gommorah were destroyed despite God’s desire for their repentance. I don’t believe someone would know for fact some of the hype predictions found in this article. However, do not diminish God’s wrath by pointing to His love. Too many people speak of His love in an almost weak and crippling manner. On the contrary, His love only strengthens His wrath. Without wrath, how can anyone know His love?
Hey panicked earthlings there is nothing to be scarred off!
No asteroid is going to hit our Earth.
They are just trying to create fear and panic into your minds.
They have bigger agendas into their mind, that we cannot even concede yet.
They want to dominate the world by FEAR and DOMINATION of your most intimate thoughts, spreading Doomsday events every couple of years.
They are really thrilled by our reactions, and find it as a game, name it Monopoly or anything else that might resemble to it in the benevolent modern ways.
Who are They?
Just search the Web and you’ll
same tbh
For some reason thou FEMA has declared September National preparedness month.
They keep saying prepare “Now” for any kind of disaster . See their video on YouTube.
Dear Jenny, I don’t see your point. The purpose of the Federal Emergency Management Agency seems to be preparing for disasters, so why do you think this is significant? Don’t the hold one of these National Preparedness Month in September every year?
Could you research this beyond watching YouTube videos?
Untruths? You mean lies. Untruths, mistruths, half truths, all must be for the politically correct, overly sensitive crowd Trying hard to get away from the Politically Correct crowds these days and replacing them with Patriotically Correct crowds.