Another suggestion you sometimes hear for how doomsday will arrive on December 21^st, 2012 is that the Earth’s poles will experience a drastic shift, leading to disaster.  

One of the possible 2012 doomsday scenarios is the collision of a large meteor with Earth that could cause a mass extinction, and bring about the end of human civilization. 

Presented here are some essential points regarding the 2012 Doomsday Phenomenon. Within these main points are links to sources of evidence for a particular topic. 

One of the most important accomplishments and contributions of our Maya ancestors—for all humanity past and present—are their calendars. 

Some who claim that the Maya predicted the end of the world in 2012 use a particular astronomical alignment that is believed will occur at the end of the 13th Baktun in the Maya Long Count calendar (December 21st, 2012) as evidence to support their notions. The claim is that on that date the Sun will align with the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, which only happens once every 25,772 years. They claim that the Maya knew about this alignment and set their Long Count calendar to end on this day because the alignment will cause something to happen. Let’s examine the facts to see if this claim of an alignment is true.

You hear the word science used often these days. But, what do we mean when we talk about science and in the context of Calendar in the Sky, what do we mean when we talk about NASA science or Maya science?

Just as scientists today study the Sun, Moon, planets and stars, more than a thousand years ago the ancient Maya watched the heavens. Maya community members tell us that they have been in Mesoamerica for many thousands of years. Archeologists separate Maya history into different time periods that differentiate important changes in the Maya civilization. The Pre-Classic period began as early as 1800 BCE (Before Common Era). Archeologists find evidence that during this time the Maya began settling in what are now southern Mexico, Guatemala, and parts of Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. During the Classic period, between 300 BCE to 900 CE (Common Era), the Maya built their settlements into great cities and the civilization flourished.

When people think of NASA, they usually think of astronauts. However, NASA also conducts research into topics like astronomy, planetary sciences, space physics, and Earth sciences—or more simply put, NASA studies Earth and Space.

Chances are you have heard or read that the Maya supposedly predicted the end of the world in the year 2012—December 21st, 2012 to be exact. This is simply not true. There is no evidence that the ancient Maya thought the world would end in 2012, nor are modern Maya people making such dire claims.

Hundreds of people stand gathered in front of an ancient Maya pyramid temple, waiting for the Sun to drop lower in the sky. On this special day – a day of equal hours of light and darkness – it is said that the great feathered serpent god K’uk’ulkan will descend from the sky, slither down the enormous pyramid and energize the earth. A sense of excitement shivers through the crowd as the top-most of the pyramid’s platforms begins to cast a shadow on the northwestern staircase. Spellbound, people watch as the shadow creeps lower, creating the effect of a serpent of light moving down the staircase. At last, the stone serpent head at the base of the pyramid is illuminated by the Sun and the crowd breaks into cheers.