Dec 21, 2012 is Doomsday?

The frenzy regarding the end of the world is so wide-spread that it almost seems true. There are a number of "theories" all claiming that the world will end in 2012. The most popular doomsday predictions are as follows: The collision of planet Earth to another planet; planetary and galactic alignments; solar flares that could violently erupt; and the end of the Mayan Calendar. But before we start to hoard food and artillery, let us examine where all these rumors/theories are coming from and know what the experts (specifically, the scientists from NASA) have to say.

The first "threat" is the predicted return of the planet known as Nibiru (or Planet X). It is actually from the book called The Twelfth Planet by Zechariah Sitchin. It basically tells about how aliens from Nibiru, called Anunnaki, came to the Earth and mined our natural resources to supplement their own. People who believe in the existence of Planet Nibiru say that it is causing disruption in the orbit of planets Uranus and Neptune, meaning, it is really close at hand and humanity should prepare for their doom because a giant planet is on its way to Earth for a collision course. But, do not believe it yet. If something as massive as another planet like Nibiru is indeed coming its way, NASA would have no doubt alerted us. From a scientific point of view, Nibiru is a hoax (just look at the book's title; how many planets do we have in the Solar System?). Besides, it was predicted to hit the Earth as early as May 2003---nothing happened! Just in case, NASA have a program (a survey, actually) which watches out for meteors and other celestial objects that may threaten the Earth. It is determined that for now, Earth is in no danger.

The other threat related to astronomy is the predicted planetary alignment that might cause disasters on Earth. While we admitted that this is a rare occurence, and it still makes people anxious, planets have already aligned before. The most recent planetary alignment happened in the year 2000. Did we feel anything bizarre, then? Hardly any, if people actually did. It is because it is negligible. In other words, it is another thing that we should not worry about. NASA also warns the public against believing in the Polar Shift. There are no evidences to prove that it is possible and that it can happen in the near future.

Some people further insuniate that there is going to be a galactic alignment that will happen this December. This galactic alignment, by the way, is that the Solar System will align with the center of the Milky Way as it passes through the constellation Sagittarius. Since a black hole, so some people believe, is at the center of the universe, there is a chance that we will get sucked into it because of the black hole's vacuum-like gravity. However, like the planetary alignment, this is also negligible and not precise. A black hole exists but it is so, so far away (150 quadrillion miles) from the Solar System that even if we perfectly align with it (which will not happen because the Solar System's angle will not permit it to), the effects cannot be perceived by anything or anyone. It's another doomsday prediction which is not backed up with sufficient proof to worry ourselves about.

As for the solar flares, it had been erupting for so long that numerous doomsday predictions were made about it. Some people say that we are approaching the end of Sun's 11-year cycle; that it will happen on December 21. The cycle, observed and discovered by Samuel Schwabe in 1843, is the various changes in the sun's activities which include flares and strong coronal mass ejections. These kinds of solar activities affect the Earth's radio communications, the climate, and it damages the Earth's artificial satellites. The idea of having a major solar catastrophe this Friday, Dec. 21, is misleading. The end of the cycle periodically happens every 11 years; and, in the present decade it will be on 2013. Also, NASA assured us that their will be no total blackouts.

Finally, we go to the most popular: the end of the Mayan Calendar on Dec. 21. This has almost nothing in relation to astronomy besides that Mayans calculated the dates based on their concept of astronomy back then. For the record, the Mayan calendar is cyclical. It means that the "end" is just another beginning of another cycle. Though there might be changes, it is really connected to spirituality,according to Jaime Licauco. Spirituality and astronomy are on different fields.

So, in conclusion, there is really nothing to prove that the end of the world is near! But it is better to think about how the earth is changing gradually (have you noticed natural disasters are fiercer?) because we still have climate change. That's just a friendly reminder. Have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Prepared by Delwin Rose Villarey

References:

Labitzke K., Matthes K. (2003). "Eleven-year solar cycle variations in the atmosphere: observations, mechanisms and models". The Holocene 13 (3): 311–7.

Licauco, Jaime.Mayan Calendar and the end of the earth cycle. Philippine Daily Inquirer. http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/lifestyle/lifestyle/view/20080630-145664/Mayan-calendar-and-the-end-of-earth-cycle

NASA. Beyond 2012: Why the World Won't End. http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html

What is Planet Nibiru and is it Approaching? http://www.december212012.com/articles/PlanetX_Nibiru/What_Is_the_Planet_Nibiru_and_Is_It_Approaching.htm

Plait, Phil. "Worried About the ENd of the World on Dec. 21? Don't Be". Bad Astronomy. http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2012/12/18/maya_apocalypse_2012_doomsday_end_of_the_world_prophecies_are_nonsense.html