Quite possible, sure, something from the realm of the Jungian synchronicity.

But, but, the very specific metaphor of Central Park in NY at night in The Killing Star as a model of the Universe is suspicious. More than 10 years between dark park and dark forest. More than enough for Liu to discover it. I simply made an objection against those who credit only him for such an apt analogy, and there are too many.

Then again, I was too dissatisfied with Cheng Xin's fatal weakness and stupidity of him choosing the closest star system, solidly studied and clearly devoid of chaotic orbital phenomena. Frank Herbert almost made the somewhat similar mistake when he was hesitating whether the setting of Dune would be placed on Mars. He chose another star system, luckily, but two moons are still visible as a trace of earlier Martian milieu.