By this time next year will we all be ducking for cover?
Will the ancient forces of Galactic Gravity finally cast our puny planet onto the trash heap of 'Good ideas -- BUT ...'
If you believe in the inferred-wisdom of the Mayan Calendar authors, well ... who knows?
Shakespeare said it best when he said that there are things far greater in heaven and earth than can be dreamt of in your philosophy.
2012 AD - Mayan Calendar Galactic Alignment
by Keith Hunter, ancient-world-mysteries.com
[...]
5) If the researchers are correct in their reconstruction of the Long Count start-date, which would represent the end of the last world age and the beginning of the present age, then the addition of 1872000 days to the time of 11 August 3114 BC, will place the end of the current age at precisely: 21 December 2012 AD.
[...]
In the early years of the 1990’s it was noticed by several individuals, apparently independent of one another, that during the next few years ahead, there would occur an intriguing and rather rare astronomical alignment. One that would involve the earth upon a future winter solstice point, the sun, and also the equatorial plane of the Milky Way galaxy – within which the solar system itself is located. Initially being nothing more than merely an unusual astronomical event of some note, the alignment pattern as identified was quickly appropriated as a potential solution to the Mayan Calendar ‘world-age ending’ problem.
[...]
Approaching the 2012 AD Galactic Alignment
As was noted previously, according to scholars of this present age the Maya in all likelihood established the Long Count some time circa 500 BC, with the position also advanced (by some) that as a result of observations carried out during such ancient times, they deliberately set up their calendar to ‘count down’ to a future conjunction of the earth at winter solstice, the sun, and the galactic equator. It would be well then to examine the sky as would have been evident at this time:
[All images are taken from Starry Night version 6.2.3.]
Isn't Computer Software something? I wonder if this is what the Bard had in mind?
Surely in this age of Science and Technology, calmer more rational minds can be brought to bear on our pending galactic doom ...
The Great 2012 Doomsday Scare
nasa.gov
[This guest article on 2012 was written by E. C. Krupp, Director of Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles and is reprinted with permission from Sky & Telescope Magazine.]
[...]
Galactic Guessing Games
Fast-forward to 1995. That year John Major Jenkins packaged several of these themes into Maya Cosmogenesis 2012. According to Jenkins, the winter-solstice point and the centerline of the Galaxy will line up exactly on Dec. 21. Arguing that this motivated the Maya to contrive the calendar to end on that date, Jenkins concludes that it will be "a tremendous transformation and opportunity for spiritual growth, a transition from one world age to another."
In fact, astronomy cannot pinpoint such a "galactic alignment" to within a year, much less a day. The alignment depends on the rather arbitrary modern definition of the galactic equator, and/or the visual appearance of the Milky Way. There is no precise definition of the Milky Way's edges -- they are very vague and depend on the clarity of your view. (Jenkins says that he personally established the Milky Way’s edges by viewing it from 11,000 feet, far above anywhere the Maya lived.) So to give a precise visual position for its centerline is not meaningful.
Well, I don't know NASA slide-rule-guys, the Mayans did have their 'vaulted viewpoints' too:
Image Source: the2012discovery.com -- Mayan Temple
Here's another NASA expert reply that seems to have all the 2012 bases covered:
2012: Beginning of the End or Why the World Won't End?
nasa.gov -- FAQ 12.22.11
Q: Could phenomena occur where planets align in a way that impacts Earth?
A: There are no planetary alignments in the next few decades, Earth will not cross the galactic plane in 2012, and even if these alignments were to occur, their effects on the Earth would be negligible. Each December the Earth and sun align with the approximate center of the Milky Way Galaxy but that is an annual event of no consequence.
Image Source: outerspaceuniverse.org -- What is the Galactic Center?
That's kind of like asking, "Is there a brick wall at the end of the Universe," isn't it?
Ask an Astrobiologist
David Morrison,
NAI Senior Scientist
June 1, 2009
astrobiology.nasa.gov
12. When the sun and the Earth line up on the galactic plane at the same time with the black whole being in the center couldn’t that cause something to happen, due to the fact that the black hole has such a strong gravitational pull.
[Answer:] There is a giant black hole in the center of our Milky Way galaxy, and like any concentration of mass it exerts gravitational force on the rest of the Galaxy. However, the galactic center is very far away, approximately 30,000 light years, so it has negligible effects on the solar system or the Earth. There are no special forces from the galactic plane or the galactic center. The only important force that acts on the Earth is the gravitation of the Sun and Moon. As far as the influence of the galactic plane, there is nothing special about this location. The last time the Earth was in the galactic plane was several million years ago. Claims that we are about to cross the galactic plane are untrue.
Hmmm? It seems our puny Earth has crossed the galactic plane before -- and it survived.
So what's all the commotion about?
Image Source: The Milky Way's 500 million potentially habitable planets
It's just more Wheels within Wheels, right?
OK, here's another News item on what 2012 will bring. It's decidedly upbeat in spite of the mysterious ritual trappings, that go along with this ancient annual ceremony ...
Winter Solstice 2011 at Stonehenge: Despite Mayan Apocalypse, Druids Predict 2012 to be Good Year
by James Plafke -- 10:55 am, December 23rd, 2011
The 2011 winter solstice, the longest night of the year, was observed at Stonehenge yesterday. Aside from a collection of interesting pictures featuring Stonehenge and druids (seen below), the druids observed the winter solstice, and came to the conclusion that 2012 will be a good year; a notion in direct contention with how the Mayans thought the world would make out in December of next year. You know, since the Mayans predicted there wouldn’t be a world anymore.
After the sun shone on Stonehenge during a dawn ceremony during the winter solstice, arch druid of the standing stones in Wiltshire, Rollo Maughfling, claimed that 2012 will be a good year, which is great news for those that assumed this year would be our last. ”Just as the ceremony came to an end the sun came over the horizon, it was excellent. It has been a very jolly occasion. It’s a good omen for the year ahead,” said Maughfling.
[...]
Image Source: National Geographic Society -- Stonehenge Photos
Well, we do live in a world full of wonder, don't we?
And the galactic potential is indeed, awe-inspiring.
Now if only we could muster the co-operation and the long-view vision, that would set us on the course to actually reach that potential -- Now THAT would be something!
Image Source: The Hubble Telescope and its origins
Just imagine the New World(s) we might discover, if we could leverage those pillars of Science, for all they are worth.
We might even discover, some very kind and wise souls in the process. Bundles of creativity, with all sorts of "good ideas" just waiting to be brought to life ...
So what say you: What will 2012 bring?
And what about 2013? (Dare we dream ... of "those things far greater ...")
When in comes to the course of Human Progress,
Will the Facts ever trump the Politics?
I guess, only Time -- and that long trail of History -- will tell ... in the long run.
Perhaps we can learn to find time to occasionally enjoy the Journey, along the way, eh?