Heaven's Gate (cult)

From The Book of THoTH (Leaves of Wisdom)

Heaven's Gate was the name of a UFO religion co-led by Marshall Applewhite, Jacob Bleier, and Bonnie Nettles (until her death). The cult's end, coinciding with the appearance of Comet Hale-Bopp, created a sensation in the United States in 1997. Applewhite convinced 39 followers to commit suicide so that their souls could take a ride on a spaceship that they believed was hiding behind the comet; members reportedly believed themselves to be extraterrestrials. Such beliefs have led some observers to characterise the group as a type of "UFO religion".