Will the World End on December 21st 2012?

• The Mayan calendar ends on Dec 21, 2012

• The Nibiru cataclysm will occur • The next solar maximum will occur • A Galactic alignment will occur• The earth’s poles will shift on their axis

Why some people believe the world will end on December 21st 2012

• The Mayan Long Count calendar identifies a date by counting the number of days from August 11, 3114 BCE, which marks the completion of 13 b'ak'tuns and the creation of man.

• Dec 21, 2012 marks the completion of the next 13 b'ak'tuns.

• So Dec 21st marks an end and a beginning!

The Nibiru cataclysm

•The Nibiru cataclysm is a supposed disastrous encounter between the Earth and a large planetary object (either a collision or a near-miss) which certain groups believe will take place in the early 21st century.

•It was originally said that its closest approach would occur on May 27, 2003.

•Some now believe it will occur on Dec 21st, 2012.

•Astronomers reject the idea of Nibiru, and point out that such an object so close to Earth would be easily visible to the naked eye.

•A planet such as Nibiru would also create noticeable effects in the orbits of the outer planets.

•Nibiru is the most common pseudoscientific topic Astronomers are asked about.

Will A Massive Solar Flare Destroy the Earth?

Belief is that a massive solar storm will occur on Dec 21st 2012 that will disrupt communications, electronic devises and possibly power grids all over the world!

Solar Flares

• Solar flares peak every 11 years

• Next peak is predicted to be in 2013 not 2012

• A sudden flux in charged particles would have an adverse effect on our electrical systems (including the entire grid system), but not destroy the earth.

Galactic AlignmentBelief is that when this occurs the earth could be sucked into a giant black hole at the center of the galaxy and that this will occur at mid-day on Dec 21st 2012!

Galactic Alignment• Occurs when the equator

of the sun, the equator of the Earth, and the equator of the Milky Way galaxy are all completely aligned.

• Astronomers say this already occurred in 1998, and nothing happened!

Shift of

Belief is that a total shift may occur on Dec 21st 2012 causing the earth’s magnetic field lines to momentarily disappear, exposing us to high levels of UV radiation from the Sun that will incinerate us within seconds !

Shift in Earth’s magnetic field

• Pole reversals occur about every 200,000 to 300,000 years.

• Although it has been more than twice that long since the last reversal, a reversal happens over hundreds or thousands of years, and it is not exactly a clean flip.

• The north pole has actually been shifting up to 40 miles per year and it’s hardly even noticed!

Failed Doomsday Predictions

• 1901 – Some predicted that Hailey’s comet gases would bring an end to the world

• 1914 – Charles T. Russell (Jehovah’s Witnesses) predicted the end of the world

• 1982 – Pat Robertson predicted that God would bring his judgment day upon the world

Failed Doomsday Predictions

• 1997 – Heaven’s Gate predicted the world would end after the appearance of the Hale-Bopp comet (39 members committed suicide)

• 1999 – The Nostradamus prophecy predicted that the “great king of terror” would come

• 2000 – Y2K was supposed to bring world chaos via computer failure

Failed Doomsday Predictions

• 2000 – Richard Noone predicted that ice would cover the earth on 5/5/2000

• 2008 – Ronald Weinland (God’s Church Ministry) predicted that millions would die in 2006 and the US would collapse in 2008

• 2011 – Harold Camping predicted the rapture on May 21 and the end of the world on Oct. 21

Will the Earth end Dec 21st 2012?Physics and Astronomy

says No! So enjoy your Christmas holiday!

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