29 Comments
User's avatar
Jaap Stijl's avatar

I wonder if humanity weren’t such a catastrophe, would so many be praying for aliens? As if some cosmic sequel to Marvel were coming to save us. Personally, I’d settle for a comet but sure, let’s dream of a galactic busload of robot armies or a celestial king stomping its boot on the face of human tyranny, bug-style. 😉

Rea de Miranda's avatar

It would be interesting to see what it actually is. Thank you, Jaap!

Stephen Drew's avatar

Maybe something to remind us of just how big it all is - a gift of awe and wonder.

Rea de Miranda's avatar

Awe and wonder. I agree, Stephen.

Johan Niemand's avatar

Ah... celestial things have always fascinated me too. I’ve spent more hours under the stars than is healthy for a young man’s imagination, sometimes seeing things I thought were real, and sometimes seeing things I was fairly sure weren’t… all depending, of course, on the strength and volume of whatever was in my cup, and what type of wood was whispering on the fire.

Now, I’ve yet to meet an alien from out there and up above.

But I’ve met plenty from down here… below.

Strange creatures, most of them, and far more unpredictable than anything drifting through the heavens.

As for our mysterious friend 31/ATLAS...my opinion, which is worth about the same as everyone else’s, is this: there’s a reason the poor fella was named Atlas. If it’s truly a mothership slicing through space at 210 000 km/h, that kind of speed must surely do something terrible to the body. I mean, just look at what normal gravity has already done to mine.

So comet or craft, visitor or vapor...who knows?

But whatever it is, it’s a beautiful reminder that the universe is wide, wild, and wonderfully uninterested in our theories.

And that, is why the fire burns sweeter when we talk about it.

Rea de Miranda's avatar

No time spent star-gazing is unhealthy, Johan.

Alien bodies could very well withstand what our bodies never can.

Whatever it is, I hope to get a closer look at it.

I couldn't have asked for a better comment. Thank you, Johan.

Ana Daksina's avatar

Strange creatures indeed!

Dora's avatar

Rea, the universe is full of mysteries. Most scientists think 31/ATLAS is a comet, but I love that a small part of us still wonders about something bigger. Maybe it’s not about what it is, but about how little we truly know. What do you feel it might be?

Rea de Miranda's avatar

I want to believe it's something alien. But what would their intention be? There's more to space than we will ever know.

Nancy Hesting's avatar

It certainly will be interesting to find out. If they are aliens, maybe they will take control of my country and set it right. It can't get much worse than it is now.

Rea de Miranda's avatar

The whole world is going crazy, Nancy. Let's see what happens.

Mark Farley’s wandering’s's avatar

What a great question, Rea?

So three interstellar comets / objects in the last eight years.

Why now?

Or is it a case that human astronomers have only just noticed them?

Or….

Is our universe, part of an intergalactic pin ball machine!

I wonder what Hawking’s and Einstein would have surmised!

Rea de Miranda's avatar

That would have been interesting to know, Mark. Why now? Good question.

Stephanie M. Vargo's avatar

It would be exciting if it were an alien, but alas, I think it will be a natural object. There are lots bodies out there in many shapes and forms and of varying compositions. I would love it to be something else. Proof of life somewhere out there would sure make things interesting.

Rea de Miranda's avatar

I think so too, Stephanie. Let's see what it brings in December.

Marcia Abboud's avatar

Let's hope it's the aliens coming to intervene and rid us of all the evil in power ;) Oh, I just read Fiona's comment 🤭 Interesting, Rea!

Rea de Miranda's avatar

Yes, I agree, Marcia. Humankind is out of control.

Marcia Abboud's avatar

😩

Fiona Bridges's avatar

Well I guess we will see what happens by December 19. I do kind of hope it's aliens. Maybeb someone coming to save us from ourselves.

Rea de Miranda's avatar

That’s my hope too!

Parker McCoy's avatar

I vote for aliens. But I know nothing.

Jen Reich's avatar

This fascinates me also. There is so much more to the Universe than we will ever know, but I do believe there are beings beyond this Earth.

Ellis Wiens's avatar

Whatever it is we'll be gaining a clearer picture of the universe once it's identified, and even then we'll have plenty of room to speculate all the mysteries that remain. Part of me hopes it's an alien vessel because I want to meet an extraterrestrial so bad, lol.

Rea de Miranda's avatar

Me too! I think we'll never know what lies out there.

AsukaHotaru's avatar

This was such a fun read, Rea — it gave me that mix of awe and “what if” chills I always get when looking up at the sky. 31/ATLAS sounds like something straight out of a cosmic mystery. Whether it’s a comet or something far stranger, I love that it reminds us how much wonder still hides out there in the dark~

Rea de Miranda's avatar

A magical realm awaits. Thank you.

User's avatar
Comment deleted
Nov 9, 2025
Comment deleted