Human World

Did our solar system cross the galactic plane on December 21, 2012?

Did our solar system cross the plane of our Milky Way galaxy in 2012? No. The solar system did not cross the galactic plane on December 21, 2012 – or on any other date in 2012. Sure, our Milky Way galaxy is flat and round, like a pancake. And yes, the sun does weave in and out of the galaxy’s flat plane. However, astronomers have determined that we’re currently moving away from, not toward the galactic plane. By astronomers’ estimates, our solar system last crossed the plane of the Milky Way galaxy some 3 million years ago. We won’t do so again for another 30 million years.

See the video below to visualize where we reside relative to the galactic plane.

This video is from Morehead Planetarium / Science360 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It’s one of a series of excellent videos by Morehead attempting to answer the many wild, crazy, improbable and false doomsday scenarios related to December 2012!

Bottom line Morehead Planetarium / Science360 produced a good video discussing the fact that our solar system will not cross through the plane of our Milky Way galaxy on December 21, 2012. In fact, we won’t pass through the galactic plane again for 30 million years.

Will we cross the galactic equator in 2012?

Will the solar system planets align on December 21, 2012?

David Stuart on the Mayan calendar and 2012 doomsday predictions

Magnetic pole reversal not a sign of doomsday

Planet Nibiru is not real

Are solar storms dangerous to us?

Posted 
December 21, 2012
 in 
Human World

Like what you read?
Subscribe and receive daily news delivered to your inbox.

Your email address will only be used for EarthSky content. Privacy Policy
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

More from 

Bruce McClure

View All