Zecharia Sitchin (born 1922) is an author of books promoting an explanation for human origins involving ancient astronauts.

Sitchin attributes the creation of the ancient Sumerian culture to the "Annunaki" (or "Nephilim"), a race of aliens from a planet he calls Nibiru which he believes to be in an elongated, elliptical orbit in the earth's own solar system. He asserts that Sumerian mythology reflects this view, though his speculations are entirely discounted by professional scientists, historians, andarchaeologists, who note many problems with his translations of ancient texts and with his understanding of physics.

Sitchin was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, and was raised in what was then Palestine (modern day Israel). He acquired some knowledge of modern and ancient Hebrew, other Semiticand European languages, the Old Testament, and the history and archeology of the Near East. Sitchin graduated from the London School of Economics, University of London, majoring in economic history. A journalist and editor in Israel for many years, he now lives and writes in New York City. His books have been widely translated, converted to braillefor the blind, and featured on radio and television.