Flat‑Earthers, as the name suggests, are a community convinced that our planet is a flat disc, even though the scientific consensus and mountains of evidence say otherwise. They argue that the notion of a spherical Earth is a grand hoax concocted by governments, space agencies, and big‑business interests. Oddly enough, they do accept that Mars is a round world.
10 Surprising Facts About Flat‑Earthers
10 They Believe Mars Is Round
Back in November 2017, tech mogul Elon Musk fired off a tongue‑in‑cheek tweet asking, “Why is there no Flat Mars Society!?” The Flat Earth Society, ever‑ready with a verified handle, shot back with a polite reply: “Hi Elon, thanks for the question. Unlike the Earth, Mars has been observed to be round.”
This exchange took many by surprise; one would assume flat‑Earthers would extend their flatness claim to Mars as well. The Society later clarified that while a flat Mars scenario is theoretically possible, there’s absolutely no empirical evidence supporting such a claim.
When pressed further about whether Earth might be the sole flat celestial body, the Society responded with a philosophical shrug: “We don’t know. Why would the Earth be the only (known) celestial body to harbour intelligent life? Perhaps it’s unique, or perhaps we need to keep looking?”
9 They Are Planning A Voyage To The Edge Of The World
Most flat‑Earthers posit that the planet’s perimeter is ringed by massive ice walls, which supposedly keep anyone from tumbling off the edge. In a bold move, a faction within the community is now arranging an expedition to reach that very edge, hoping to settle the “flat vs. round” debate once and for all.
The venture is being organized by the Flat Earth International Conference (FEIC), which is keeping the mission’s details under tight wraps—perhaps to outwit the alleged NASA guards patrolling the rim. Curiously, the planned vessel will rely on GPS technology, a system fundamentally built on a spherical Earth model, raising eyebrows among skeptics.
8 They Believe SpaceX’s Photos Of Starman Were Doctored
Before private companies entered the space arena, flat‑Earthers mainly targeted government agencies like NASA, accusing them of concealing the truth for profit. Today, their focus has shifted toward commercial giants such as SpaceX.
In February 2018, Elon Musk’s Falcon Heavy lofted a Tesla Roadster into deep space, complete with a mannequin—dubbed “Starman”—at the wheel. The live‑stream showed Starman against a backdrop of a clearly round Earth, a sight flat‑Earthers found intolerable.
The Flat Earth Society swiftly labeled the iconic image a fabrication, accusing SpaceX of “FakeX” tactics and alleging a profit‑driven cover‑up to hide the planet’s true flatness.
7 They Claim Solar Eclipses Prove The Earth Is Flat
Solar eclipses are often touted as irrefutable proof of a spherical Earth: a flat world would allow every location under the Sun to witness the eclipse simultaneously, which never happens because of curvature. Yet flat‑Earthers flip the script, insisting the same eclipses actually demonstrate flatness.
They argue that a round Earth would cause the Moon’s shadow to appear larger during a solar eclipse, a scenario that would only occur if the Sun were tiny and perched close to the Moon. In their view, the observed shadow size supports a flat geometry.
Flat‑Earthers also contend that the Moon’s shadow should travel east‑to‑west because a rotating Earth moves west‑to‑east. They claim this would be true if the Moon weren’t moving faster than Earth’s rotation. In reality, the Moon travels roughly 3,400 km/h (2,100 mph) while Earth spins at about 1,670 km/h (1,038 mph), making the shadow sweep eastward at about 1,730 km/h (1,075 mph).
6 Flat‑Earthers Say An Undiscovered Object Causes Lunar Eclipses
Lunar eclipses, like their solar counterparts, are classic evidence for a round Earth. Flat‑Earthers, however, attempt to reinterpret them to bolster their flat‑world model.
According to their theory, a mysterious, yet‑to‑be‑identified object slips between Earth and the Moon during a lunar eclipse, casting the shadow we observe. In reality, the eclipse occurs because the Moon passes through Earth’s own shadow.
Flat‑Earthers admit they cannot name this enigmatic object, but speculate it might be an unseen planet or asteroid orbiting between our world and its satellite. Astronomers, however, have definitively shown that no such body can ever position itself between Earth and the Moon.
5 They Believe The Sun Is Small And Right Above The Earth
Our planet experiences two equinoxes each year—one in March, the other in September—when the Sun shines directly over the equator, giving day and night roughly equal lengths. This phenomenon is explained by Earth’s axial tilt and its spherical shape.
Flat‑Earthers reject this explanation, insisting that equinoxes occur because the Sun hovers directly above Earth, circling the North Pole, which they claim is the world’s true center. They further argue that the Sun is far smaller than mainstream science asserts.
4 A Flat‑Earther Launched A Homemade Rocket In An Attempt To View The Earth From Space
Mike Hughes, a self‑styled “rocket man,” built a backyard rocket with the singular goal of soaring high enough to photograph a flat Earth from space. The prototype, assembled from scrap metal, cost roughly $20,000 to construct.
In March 2018, Hughes ignited his creation, propelling himself to an altitude of 572 meters (1,875 feet) before a parachute deployed and sent him back down. The landing was hard, resulting in injuries, though none were permanent, and Hughes reportedly returned to his engineering efforts after recovery.
3 Another Flat‑Earther Wants To Launch A Satellite Into Space
Rapper Bobby Ray Simmons Jr., better known as B.o.B, is a vocal flat‑Earther who dreams of sending a satellite into orbit to capture images of a flat planet. Unlike Hughes, B.o.B is seeking funding through a GoFundMe campaign rather than financing the venture himself.
Launched on September 21, 2017, the campaign—titled “Show B.o.B The Curve”—aimed to raise $1 million for one or more satellites. Critics note that B.o.B lacks the technical expertise to build or launch a satellite, meaning any eventual launch would likely rely on companies that accept a spherical Earth, which undermines his objective. As of the article’s writing, the fundraiser had amassed only $6,924.
2 YouTube Is Turning People Into Flat‑Earthers
The rise of flat‑Earthers has been dramatic enough to spark academic curiosity. Researchers from Texas Tech University attended annual flat‑Earth conferences in 2017 and 2018, interviewing 30 participants. Of those, 29 admitted they had previously accepted a round Earth until they encountered YouTube videos purporting to prove flatness.
Many of these converts were watching unrelated conspiracy content—such as 9/11 or Moon‑landing theories—when YouTube’s recommendation algorithm auto‑played flat‑Earth videos, effectively steering them toward the belief.
YouTube later announced it would curb the recommendation of “borderline” content, which includes controversial topics like flat‑Earth theories. However, the platform maintains that it cannot outright ban such videos, as they are not false in the same sense as misinformation that violates policy.
1 Some Flat‑Earthers Think Teleportation Is The Reason We Don’t Fall Off The Edge Of The Earth
Many flat‑Earthers assert that a colossal ice wall—identified as Antarctica—encircles the planet’s rim, while the Arctic occupies the central point. To explain why no one has plummeted off this edge, they claim NASA agents guard the wall, preventing any attempts to climb it.
Air travel poses another conundrum: on a flat plane, an aircraft flying straight toward the edge should either burst into space or be unable to return without turning. To resolve this, Darren Nesbit suggested that planes teleport or slip through a wormhole upon reaching the edge, reappearing on the opposite side—a phenomenon he dubbed the “Pac‑Man effect,” reminiscent of the classic arcade game.
Another flat‑Earther, Connor Murphy, offers a different spin, proposing that Earth isn’t flat at all but rather a dome—a half‑sphere enclosing us. In this model, there is no edge to fall off; instead, we’re all confined within a massive, transparent ceiling.