Just posted by JAXA: a polite but thorough debunking of a conspiracy theory. In Japanese culture, a rumor/viral media suggested a catastrophe, to occur on July 5. Admittedly, Japanese culture is marked by catastrophes (ask any geologist… or tropical-cyclone meteorologist). But calling a date… just sad.
cosmos.isas.jaxa.jp/july-5-the-day-the-world-was-due-to-end/
July 5: The Day The World Was Due To End
September 19, 2025
Needless to say, we’re still here. This is a detailed but moderate-length, very readable piece on asteroids and planetary defense. Planetary defense, some of which is Japanese, and some of which is not. Any notion of a government cover-up then becomes ridiculous, unless… the conspiracy theorists would pivot to ‘an international conspiracy’.
Those of us who are aware of the asteroid discovery and orbit determination/tracking process find these hysterics to be, well, hysterical. Read JAXA’s piece, and become that much more aware.