Life on Ceres? One Step Closer to The Expanse

OMG: Aliens!

As you may already be aware, The Expanse (coming to Syfy this December!) takes place on and around Ceres, the "dwarf planet" of our solar system and the site of Ceres Station, one of the first sites of human colonization and home to approximately six million permanent residents.

This premise, set 200 years in the future, might not be as far-fetched as we once thought, as there's definitely something science-fiction-y happening on Ceres today — like, for real.

NASA's Dawn probe has inspired quite the buzz amongst alien conspiracy theorists since February 19, when it first took photos of sparkly bright spots on the surface of Ceres (which lies in the asteroid belt — or, "the Belt" — between Mars and Jupiter).

Could these be inhabited cities, as theorized by Chris Reher on Twitter? Inhabited by … ALIENS? (or, say, Thomas Jane?)

Now, CNN reports that NASA has released an image of a pyramid-like structure rising some three miles above the planet's surface, taken by the Dawn probe on June 14.

Obviously the headquarters of our new alien overlords.

(Also, it's probably no coincidence that NASA shared these findings the day after the title was announced for the Independence Day sequel.)

As you can see, the production team of The Expanse may now have to shoot some new scenes depicting the human race needing to overthrow the indiginous population of Ceres before it can build any damn space station. For now, check out the trailer below …

The Expanse: Trailer #1

… and, for those of you attending San Diego Comic-Con next week, don't miss The Expanse panel on Saturday, July 11 at 4PM in the Indigo Ballroom at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel. Cast members Thomas Jane, Steven Strait, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Cas Anvar, Dominique Tipper and Wes Chatham will join executive producers Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby and Naren Shankar for an exclusive screening of the season premiere!