Did Arecibo Spot a Cosmic Disc Next to an Asteroid? You Decide
In 2017, scientists at the Arecibo Observatory were using radar to image a Near-Earth Object known as asteroid 2003 UX34. What they expected to see was a typical delay-Doppler radar return of a rocky body spinning through space.
What they got was something much more intriguing.
The data showed what appeared to be a perfect arc-shaped echo near the asteroid—alongside a smaller object moving around it. To many, it looked like a massive disc accompanied by a mini-satellite in orbit. The symmetry and clarity of the radar image were so precise that even seasoned astronomers took a second look.
The official line? This was a spinning asteroid with a moonlet, and the arcs were just clean radar echoes.
But not everyone is buying it.
Understanding the Radar
Arecibo used a system called delay-Doppler radar imaging. It sends out powerful radio pulses—at 2380 MHz in this case—and receives the signal as it bounces back from space objects. The timing (delay) shows distance, and the frequency shift (Doppler) shows motion.
Fast-spinning objects like asteroids tend to produce smeared-out radar returns. If the object has a smaller moonlet orbiting it, that return appears as a clean arc—just like what was seen with 2003 UX34.
Astronomers quickly identified the main shape as the asteroid and the smaller echo as a natural satellite, calling it a binary system.
Why the Internet Disagrees
When the radar image first circulated online, it didn’t take long for forums like Reddit and conspiracy websites to light up. To the untrained eye, it looks more like a spacecraft than a space rock.
Two things stood out:
The precision of the disc-like shape—too smooth, too symmetric.
The movement of the secondary object—clearly in orbit, cleanly separated.
Theories ranged from alien surveillance craft to ancient probes disguised as asteroids. Some noted the resemblance to the 2017 ‘Oumuamua mystery—another object with strange acceleration patterns that mainstream science struggled to explain.
And of course, the fact that Arecibo collapsed just a few years later only fueled the speculation. Some believe the intense radar output used in tracking objects like UX34 may have contributed to structural fatigue in the observatory.
The Scientific Consensus
Despite the noise, experts maintain there’s no mystery. Around 15 percent of known Near-Earth asteroids are binary systems. Clean radar arcs aren’t unusual if the rotation and reflectivity line up just right.
In other words: it’s science, not sci-fi.
Still, the image left an impression—and for many, the timing, shape, and Arecibo’s demise keep the door open for alternative theories.
Have you seen strange data from space missions, old telescope scans, or radio anomalies? Send your evidence or theories to Paranormal Warehouse. We want to hear what you’ve picked up—because sometimes the truth hides in the details we’re told to ignore.
