Is the world coming to an end, again? Well, that is what everyone is going gaga about at the moment following reports that claimed that an asteroid will strike the Earth on 28 September, heralding the end of life on the only inhibited planet of the solar system.
According to conspiracy theorists, a cataclysmic event will destroy the Earth and civilisation, owing to the ominous blood moon and a prophesied meteor strike. On 28 September, we will see the moon turn an incredible blood colour, and according to some, the end of days will arrive with it.
Previously, Gemma Lavender, features editor for All About Space magazine, had debunked such ridiculous claims and urged everyone to remain calm. She told the Liverpool Echo: "There are claims that, with the moon getting closer to Earth, that there is an increased risk of events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions - this is false."
"With the moon being closer to us than usual, and provided you have a clear night, observers should take advantage of the moon's stunning lunar seas along with its beautiful craters and mountains, which can be observed with binoculars or a telescope," she said.
But Gemma is not the only one who has spoken against such beliefs among the masses. Nasa has also ruled out the possibility of an asteroid striking the Earth on 28 September.
"Nasa knows of no asteroid or comet currently on a collision course with Earth, so the probability of a major collision is quite small," said a spokesperson, adding, "In fact, as best as we can tell, no large object is likely to strike the Earth any time in the next several hundred years."
What is the Blood Moon?
The Blood Moon is basically a spectacular sight that will be caused by the reflection of sunlight on the Earth's atmosphere. The moon will this appear red to the naked eye. The colour of it will actually depend upon where the sun is positioned in the sky.
What is the Blood Moon Prophecy?
The Blood Moon prophecy was brought to light by Christian ministers John Hagee and Mark Biltz. According to them, the ongoing "tetrad"--four consecutive lunar eclipses, starting back in April 2014 with six full moons in between--is the indicator of the end of earth, as described in the Bible in Acts 2:20 and Revelation 6:12.
But this is not the first time such a phenomenon has been revealed to the world. "The last time there was a tetrad was back in the 1900s, and to my amazement, they also fell on the feasts of Passover and Tabernacles," explains Blitz.
"When I noticed the years these phenomena occurred, my mind began reeling. The last two times there were four blood moons in a row, they happened, first, right after Israel became a nation in 1948, and then again when Israel retook Jerusalem in 1967."
As far as the Blood Moon theory is concerned, according to the Book of Joel, "the sun will turn into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes."
When it May Happen?
According to theorists, the prophecy will indeed come true. It is just that they cannot pin an exact date to it. The Blood Moon prophecy, if indeed real, could happen anytime between 21 and 28 September. Several blogs claim that it will be around 23 or 24 September.
Religion's Take
According to Rev Efrain Rodriguez, a self-proclaimed prophet, who is convinced that he got a message from God, this calamity is coming soon. In fact, he was so sure of it, he wrote to Nasa to warn them of his fears. Rodriguez is known for regularly updating his readers on his Facebook page with several such warnings.
In fact, Rodriguez even had a vision of the same where he saw a massive asteroid "entering the airspace of the town of Arecibo in Puerto Rico, striking the sea between the island of Mona and Mayaguez and triggering a magnitude 12 earthquake."
Nasa's Take
Obviously, Nasa has been hit by a number of queries about the end of life on Earth later this month. Such is the hysteria surrounding the theory that it has taken the most unusual step of issuing a statement to calm down the people.
"There is no existing evidence that an asteroid or any other celestial object is on a trajectory that will impact Earth," according to Paul Chodas, from Nasa's Near-Earth Object office.
"In fact, not a single one of the known objects has any credible chance of hitting our planet over the next century. There is no scientific basis, not one shred of evidence, that an asteroid or any other celestial object will impact Earth on those dates."
So are you packing your survival kits for the apocalypse that is upcoming, or will you just throw back on the date and enjoy the beauty of the Blood Moon (and maybe read a bit of Lovecroft)? Let us know through your comments below.
Stay tuned for more updates!
