Expert: Philip Stahl - 5/14/2008

Question
There is much activity flying about 2012 alignment and other astronomical events occurring that year. I am aware of the over-exaggerations as to the downside of of plant X among numerous other interesting ideas.  Truth is usually in between the lines, but Is obvious to say that our relationship with our sun and our suns relationship with our Galaxy are similar and we are all interdependent...  Changes are coming and they will prove our existing ideas have a ways to go.  What are your comments on 2012???

Answer
Hello,

Given my experience with a previous "alignment" (The "Jupiter Effect" in 1982) I am not convinced that this next one will be any more remarkable. Eventual calculations on the strength of the Jupiter Effect on the Sun were that it would produce a solar "tide" of about 1 mm +/- 2mm. In other words, essentially zippo when the uncertainties are reckoned in. All the catastrophes forecast came to a big, fat nought.

There were no huge earthquakes, California didn't slip into the sea, and the magnetic poles didn't vanish.

Yes, there are interrelationships between assorted cosmic objects, but one must always be aware of the magnitudes of these. In some case, they aren't worth bothering about.

As I have repeatedly told others, there are far bigger worries and much closer to home: such as global warming, which may well see this planet in a "runaway Greenhouse effect" by 2100 if we don't do anything to mitigate the effects - and keep lamely blaming "natural causes". (Btw, see my answer of 5/12 on the global warming issue)

So no, I am not losing sleep over this alignment. Global warming gives me much more cause for alarm! As it should you!