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Diamond
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Do you know of any scientist for some reason taking the position that on 12-21-12, when a few planets align with the sun, some catastrophy will occur on planet earth?
 
Posts: 4385 | Location: U.S.A. | Registered: 06-08-02Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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No. Even when the planets are roughly aligned (they're never precisely lined up), such as occurred on May 17, 2000, nothing happened or would be expected to happen. How could it?

The only conceivable effect would be through gravitation, and this has negligible effect on the Earth from such distant bodies. Even Jupiter's pull on Earth amounts to 1% of that of the moon. There would be no measurable tidal effects and certainly no catastrophe.

Such is the stuff of folklore -- or bad science. Remember the "Jupiter Effect" doomsayers of the 1970s? "The world will end in 1983!" It was the big yawn.

Here's some info: Planetary Alignments: Fact or Fiction?.
 
Posts: 2039 | Location: U.S. | Registered: 06-03-02Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Diamond
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Professor: Thanks for the link--and for teaching me how to spell "catastrophe."
 
Posts: 4385 | Location: U.S.A. | Registered: 06-08-02Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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You're welcome -- notice the apostrophe. Good to see you back, tsaeb Smile
 
Posts: 2039 | Location: U.S. | Registered: 06-03-02Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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