NASA’s alleged 3I/Atlas leak and Japan’s viral sky photo trend worldwide

A supposed NASA image leak”and a stunning sky photo from Japan are going viral online, grabbing attention from space lovers around the world. Both pictures have sparked huge curiosity and discussions across social media.

The alleged NASA leak began circulating early this week. The image, said to be of the interstellar object “3I/Atlas,” was claimed to have come from NASA’s internal system. It showed a glowing, bluish-green object floating in space. Some users called its shape strange and even suggested it might be artificial.

However, NASA has not confirmed the image as real. There’s been no official statement from the agency about any leak. Scientists also warned that the photo could be fake, saying it might be an edited image or real telescope data modified with filters to look more dramatic.

“3I/Atlas” is an interstellar object — meaning it came from outside our solar system. It’s the third of its kind discovered, after “ʻOumuamua” in 2017 and “2I/Borisov” in 2019. Astronomers believe 3I/Atlas will pass through our solar system only once and never return. There’s no proof that it’s artificial or linked to extraterrestrial life. Experts say such objects are usually made of rock, ice, and dust.

Meanwhile, a breathtaking photo from Japan also went viral. The image showed the Milky Way and what looked like soft Aurora lights glowing above a mountain. Captured on a clear night, the picture was praised as one of the most peaceful and beautiful space photos of the year. People online admired its natural beauty, saying it reminded them how amazing the night sky can look without filters.

On social media, hashtags like “#3IAtlas,” “#NASAleak,” and “#JapanSkyPhoto” started trending on X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit. Some people believed the NASA image was real, while others saw it as a creative hoax. Scientists later confirmed that no official NASA data had been leaked.

Even though the two photos are unrelated, their popularity shows how much people remain fascinated by space. While NASA hasn’t released new updates about 3I/Atlas yet, astronomers continue to study the mysterious object using observatories across the world.

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