Mayans would scoff today at world's end prophesy
By Wing Tan |
December 21, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE world is definitely not coming to an end today, the winter solstice.
Jesús Galindo Trejo, a Mexican researcher in astro-archeology, plasma astrophysics and solar physics, answers questions about the end-of-the-world prediction and the Mayan calendar, which ends today. He recently addressed a conference last month at Shanghai Tonji University.
Q: Are there any threats to Earth in 2012?
A: The only real threat to Earth is the irresponsible conduct of man in the contamination of our planet. The probability of an impact of a meteorite or comet on Earth is so low that the most dangerous situation comes from our own star, the sun billions of years hence. According to the stellar evolution theory, in approximately 4.5 billion years, the sun will become a giant red star, its distance to Earth will shrink, all liquids will evaporate, and possibly the sun will absorb Earth. Then we will return to our origin. In 2012 there is nothing dangerous for Earth.
Q: What's the origin of the prediction that the world will end in 2012?
A: The so-called Mayan predictions are simply a rough extrapolation of a cultural theme from this prehispanic people. The origin of this assertion is a characteristic of the Mayan calendar, for which the date of this winter solstice could be written as 13.0.0.0.0. Some enthusiastic people in the United States think that this striking date must necessarily imply a mysterious message. They invented some prophecies that from the point of view of Mayan astronomy and culture are simply nonsense.
Q: Does the Mayan calendar end in December 2012?
A: The Mayan calendar is an endless system. This situation is very similar to that in the year 2000. The next day after the winter solstice, the Mayans would have written the date as 13.0.0.0.1, and so on. These five numbers (which can be from 1 to 19 and zero) are the coefficients of the powers of 20 and give the totality of days elapsed since the beginning of time on August 13, BC 3114.
Q: Why does the Mayan calendar indicate a world end in 2012? Mayan astronomers were accurate in other planetary predictions.
A: Mayan astronomy made significant achievements. For example, the determination of the synodic period of Venus, the computation of solar eclipses and the commensurability of the Venusian and solar observational periods. However, the Mayans did not say anything about the end of the world. This assertion is a foolish modern over-interpretation, which shows ignorance of the Mayan culture.
Q: How do you, as a senior researcher in cultural astronomy, feel about claims of the world ending in 2012?
A: This global social and media phenomenon is typical sign of the times. People are tired of crises, religion and so on, and they look for new emotions. What triggers emotion in people? Phantoms, the end of the world, and other mysterious or catastrophic events.
Jesús Galindo Trejo has been a researcher for 20 years at the Astronomical Institute of the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City. He specializes in the archeo-astronomy of prehispanic Mexico and studies the influence of astronomy in ancient and contemporary cultures.
Jesús Galindo Trejo, a Mexican researcher in astro-archeology, plasma astrophysics and solar physics, answers questions about the end-of-the-world prediction and the Mayan calendar, which ends today. He recently addressed a conference last month at Shanghai Tonji University.
Q: Are there any threats to Earth in 2012?
A: The only real threat to Earth is the irresponsible conduct of man in the contamination of our planet. The probability of an impact of a meteorite or comet on Earth is so low that the most dangerous situation comes from our own star, the sun billions of years hence. According to the stellar evolution theory, in approximately 4.5 billion years, the sun will become a giant red star, its distance to Earth will shrink, all liquids will evaporate, and possibly the sun will absorb Earth. Then we will return to our origin. In 2012 there is nothing dangerous for Earth.
Q: What's the origin of the prediction that the world will end in 2012?
A: The so-called Mayan predictions are simply a rough extrapolation of a cultural theme from this prehispanic people. The origin of this assertion is a characteristic of the Mayan calendar, for which the date of this winter solstice could be written as 13.0.0.0.0. Some enthusiastic people in the United States think that this striking date must necessarily imply a mysterious message. They invented some prophecies that from the point of view of Mayan astronomy and culture are simply nonsense.
Q: Does the Mayan calendar end in December 2012?
A: The Mayan calendar is an endless system. This situation is very similar to that in the year 2000. The next day after the winter solstice, the Mayans would have written the date as 13.0.0.0.1, and so on. These five numbers (which can be from 1 to 19 and zero) are the coefficients of the powers of 20 and give the totality of days elapsed since the beginning of time on August 13, BC 3114.
Q: Why does the Mayan calendar indicate a world end in 2012? Mayan astronomers were accurate in other planetary predictions.
A: Mayan astronomy made significant achievements. For example, the determination of the synodic period of Venus, the computation of solar eclipses and the commensurability of the Venusian and solar observational periods. However, the Mayans did not say anything about the end of the world. This assertion is a foolish modern over-interpretation, which shows ignorance of the Mayan culture.
Q: How do you, as a senior researcher in cultural astronomy, feel about claims of the world ending in 2012?
A: This global social and media phenomenon is typical sign of the times. People are tired of crises, religion and so on, and they look for new emotions. What triggers emotion in people? Phantoms, the end of the world, and other mysterious or catastrophic events.
Jesús Galindo Trejo has been a researcher for 20 years at the Astronomical Institute of the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City. He specializes in the archeo-astronomy of prehispanic Mexico and studies the influence of astronomy in ancient and contemporary cultures.
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