http://www.exopolitics.org/cometneat.

htm 12/26/09 2:31 AM

DID NASA FAKE COMET FLYBY?

There is sufficient evidence to suggest that NASA has deliberately tampered with satellite
imagery depicting a comet changing its flight path after interacting with the sun on February 18.
Comet NEAT (C/2002 V1) was first observed by astronomers in November 2002 and was
initially described as a 'small' comet that would come closest to the Earth on December 24,
2002, when it would be at 0.8 AU (note: 1 AU equals 93 million miles the distance between the
Earth and the sun). Astronomers suggested that NEAT would brighten considerably as it
approached its perihelion ( approach to the sun) of 0.1 AU (go to
http://cometography.com/lcomets/2002v1.html) . By the time of its eventual arrival in the sun's
vicinity, the precise size of the comet had become a matter of controversy as evident in a
February 19, BBC report that described the comet as "unusual in that it is very large and very
bright. In fact, it is the brightest comet ever observed by one of Soho's instruments."
(Http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/2779633.stm)

According to NASA flight projections, the comet

would flyby the sun and continue its orbit without
having an appreciable impact on either the sun or the
Earth. Real time photographs of the comet by the
SOHO satellite positioned between the Sun and Earth
showed the comet's passage around the sun (for
NASA's projected passage, see image on left). As
predicted, the comet appeared very large, with some
estimates of its coma (gases, ice, etc., surrounding the
core) up to four times the size of Jupiter while having
a planet sized core up to the size of Mercury.

On its passage
past the sun on Feb 18, an enormous solar flame moves
towards the comet as though to strike it in the fashion of a
lightning bolt (image time-dated 2002/2/18 06:54). Just
before what appears to be a critical impact, the images from
SOHO's LASCO 3 corona graph, stop for a critical seven
hours, when they resume, the next image (time dated one
hour later), shows that the solar flame has disappeared, and
what appears to be the remains of a crude cut and paste
effort involving the comet (for more on evidence tampering
see http://www.gulufuture.com/future/neat_flyby.htm)

Page 1 of 6
http://www.exopolitics.org/cometneat.htm 12/26/09 2:31 AM

Subsequent images released by NASA showed

the comet continuing its flight path without any
significant interaction with the sun (image time-
dated 2003/2/18 09:54) (to see NASA's
animated sequence go to

http://science.nasa.gov/spaceweather/swpod2003/21feb03/soho1.gif). At this point, amateur

astronomers on Web discussion boards began crying foul and were accusing NASA of image
tampering. It should be pointed out that the processing of SOHO images occurs at the NASA
Goddard Flight Center making it plausible that image tampering could occur using popular
software packages such as Paint Brush. The period from when the comet reportedly exited the
range SOHO's LASCO corona graphs, showed the sun resuming intense solar flare activity in
the region where the comet had earlier been. The entire sequence of NEAT's passage appeared
as in the following set of images released by NASA.

Discussion about comet NEAT would most likely have soon ended were it not for the following
image (time-dated 2003/02/20 23:42) released by
SOHO on Feb 20, more than two days after the
first 'tampered' image and when NEAT should
have left the view of SOHO's LASCO corona
graphs. The image showed what appeared to be
the comet NEAT in an unanticipated position
Page 2 of 6
http://www.exopolitics.org/cometneat.htm 12/26/09 2:31 AM

suggesting that it had changed direction and

continued to be interacting with the sun. The next
image (time-dated 2003/02/20 23:42) was
delayed by 12 hours, but time dated 36 minutes
later, showed no sign of the comet. Some
astronomers suggested that the image depicting
NEAT was still in the vicinity was an anomaly
caused by such explainable factors as the SOHO
satellite recording part of its own equipment
discharge. For amateur astronomers, this was the
smoking gun they had been looking for. Website
discussion boards suddenly began to be systematically hacked making it difficult for news to
get out and raising suspicion of NASA faking the fly by (go to
http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/forum.cgi?read=28891)

Surprisingly, a second set of images appeared almost

two days later on Feb 22, that showed comet NEAT was still in the sun's vicinity and
continuing to interact with it. The images came from SOHO's LASCO 2 corona graph which
focuses on the vicinity much closer to the sun. These images showed an object, perhaps NEAT's
core or segments of it, being ejected out of the sun (image time-dated 2003/02/22 19:31 - for
animated version of this sequence of images go to
http://homepage.eircom.net/~gulufuture/future/neat_expel.htm)

Page 3 of 6
http://www.exopolitics.org/cometneat.htm 12/26/09 2:31 AM

Amateur astronomers participating in a number of web page discussion boards again began to
experience a high degree of hacking with boards going offline. This only added to growing
accusations of foul play and suspicions about a NASA conspiracy to suppress the true nature of
comet NEAT's precise location and interaction with the sun. Only to compound matters further,
the critical LASCO instruments for recording the activities around the sun's corona, were closed
down for the 4-day period from 24-27 February for repositioning the SOHO satellite. The cause
was either routine 'Spacecraft Thruster Firing' as NASA claimed, or NASA was trying to
prevent further leaks on NEAT's actual position.

The strongest evidence of image tampering are the images provided by the SOHO satellite
which show what appears to be either the comet itself or its remnants in a variety of positions
around the sun after NEAT should have left the sun's vicinity. Some have suggested that the
released images were deliberately leaked by sympathetic NASA officials who wanted the
general public to learn about the true nature of the comet's interaction with the sun.

Another significant piece of information is a set

of images that showed what looked like an eye to
the right of the comet just before the comet was
apparently struck by a solar flare (image time-
dated 2003/02/18 08:54). For those familiar with
the Great Seal of the US (see reverse of one
dollar bill), this was strikingly familiar with the
Eye of Horus signifying Providence is watching
over human affairs. There are three explanations
for this mysterious eye. One the eye is just a
fortuitous natural event captured on camera. Two,
the eye was contrived by sympathetic NASA

Page 4 of 6
http://www.exopolitics.org/cometneat.htm 12/26/09 2:31 AM

officials wanting to communicate that they are

helping get information out. Or three, some
'external' intervention from a 'non-human' agency
or intelligence has indeed occurred. Given that a significant number of individuals, groups, and
organizations have been waiting for a cosmic event to signify 'divine intervention' in human
affairs, then arguably, Comet Neat and the eye signifies that this has indeed occurred. If either
of the latter two explanations is accurate, NASA may be expected to continue encountering
difficulty in keeping news of comet NEAT's interaction with the sun from becoming public
knowledge.

Did NASA Fake Comet NEAT's Flyby of the Sun?

In summary, the primary evidence that NASA has faked the flyby of comet Neat lies in analysis
of three sets images released by the SOHO satellite. The first is the February 18 image ( time-
dated 2003/2/18 06:54) which shows evidence of tampering. The second is the February 20
image (time-dated 2003/02/20 23:42) which is the smoking gun that NEAT did not leave the
sun's vicinity in the path predicted by NASA. The third are the February 22 images that show
an object, possibly NEAT, being expelled from the sun (time-dated 2003/02/22 19:31).
Circumstantial evidence is the following. Firstly, delays in release of images that depicted
NEAT at critical stages in its passage. And second, hacking of amateur astronomer discussion
boards that were attempting to analyze the data as it was emerging. When the evidence is
analyzed, one is forced to choose between one of two choices. Either NASA is correct and
nothing extraordinary has occurred other than the routine passage of a small but bright comet
that will return again in 37,000 years. In this case, all the anomalous images and delays have
plausible explanations. Alternatively, deliberate tampering of satellite imagery by NASA has
occurred in order to suppress from public attention the true passage of Comet NEAT and its
significance for humanity.

What strengthens the case for the latter explanation, is that some extraordinary weather patterns
began to appear on February 24 that would be consistent with the intense solar activities
beginning from February 18. For instance, it takes approximately about five days for coronal
mass ejections from the sun to reach the earth. Aside from the snow and icy conditions that
surprisingly appeared in the USA on February 24, a foot of snow has fallen in Jerusalem and
elsewhere in the Middle East on February 25. Children and police in the GAZA strip, and
elsewhere in Israel/Palestine were having snowball fights! Such bizarre weather might be
simply welcomed as a respite from the turmoil of the Middle East or may signify something
extraordinary has occurred.

What is even more troubling for NASA's account of the NEAT comet, is that on February 28,
NASA released a space weather report that said the "Earth is approaching a cometary debris
stream that might trigger an unusual Antartic meteor show this weekend"

Page 5 of 6
http://www.exopolitics.org/cometneat.htm 12/26/09 2:31 AM

(http://science.nasa.gove/headlines/2003/28feb_tucanids.htm). The disturbing thing is that when

one investigates the meteor showers and associated cometary debris predicted for 2003, there is
no mention of the comet Bradfield. According to a comprehensive list of meteor showers and
associated comets scheduled to pass the Earth in 2003, the last meteor shower was the
Quadrantids between January 1-6, and the next are the Virginids in late March and Early April
(http://www.ticetboo.demon.co.uk/meteors.htm). If indeed, the comet's interaction with the sun
did have an effect on recent weather patterns, and the 'surprise' cometary debris which the Earth
is passing into on March 1 is associated with NEAT, then it is plausible to suggest that NASA's
depiction of NEAT's passage is contrived.

Based on the evidence, it may be concluded that Comet NEAT was diverted in its interaction
with the sun over the period February 18-22. The reopening of the LASCO corona graphs on
the SOHO observatory on February 27, signified that the comet NEAT had moved out of the
vicinity of the sun into a flight path known only to NASA. The cometary debris which NASA
claims is associated with the comet Bradfield, is in most likelihood, the first physical
manifestation of the comet NEAT's break up and/or changed flight pattern. The meteor shower
predicted for March 1 is possibly part of the tail of NEAT which has been widely dispersed and
may continue to cross the Earth's orbit for some time yet. More significantly, it is not clear
where the major portions of comet NEAT are, and how they will interact with the Earth or
affect weather patterns when they cross the Earth's orbit. There continues to be uncertainty over
where exactly comet NEAT's flight path will take it, and the amount of cometary debris it will
bring in its wake. Comet Neat's fly by of the sun has truly been an extraordinary event and
despite the uncertainty over its significance, we might take comfort from the cosmic eye seen to
be overseeing NEAT in the SOHO satellite image of February 18, that perhaps Providence is
indeed watching over humanity.

Copyright © Michael E. Salla, PhD (Feb 26, 2003, updated March 1, 2003)

Forward as you wish. Permission is granted to circulate among private individuals and groups,
post on all Internet sites and publish in full in all not-for-profit publications. Contact author for
all other rights, which are reserved.

For on-line link to this article and for author information go to: http://www.exopolitics.org/

Page 6 of 6