by Tara Rijon

Created on: April 20, 2008   Last Updated: April 22, 2008

The Maya occupied the Yucatan Peninsula around 2500 B.C. and, while their bizarre beliefs made them appear to be somewhat of a barbaric tribe, their development of astronomy, the calendrical systems and hieroglyphic writing has baffled scientists throughout the centuries. Today, the Mayans continue to remain one of the world's biggest mysteries.

Using a highly sophisticated mathematical system and the movements of the sun, the moon and Venus, the Mayans developed two calendars: a 365 day solar calendar (or the Haab), and a 260 day ritual calendar (also known as the Tzolkin). These two calendars were combined into a third calendar, referred to as the "Long Count," which starts over every 5000 years or so. The Mayans believed that the world was made up of five ages, and that each of these ages end with a cataclysmic event. It is the end of this calendar, however, that is of the most importance.

By way of the Long Count calendar, the Mayans were able to predict events over long periods of time, even centuries. Not only were they were able to predict rain, thus knowing when to plant and harvest their crops, but were able to predict solar and lunar eclipses with complete exactness. Modern day scientists have proven their accuracy to be astounding, and to be precise within a matter of 33 seconds. This calendar comes to an end with a winter solstice in 2012, due to a series of cosmic events.

According to the Mayans, on December 21, 2012, a galactic alignment will take place that will change our world as we know it. On this date, when the December solstice sun lines up with the center of the milky-way galaxy, the earth will complete a full wobble on its axis at the exact same time. The earth's nutation will result in something called the precession of the equinoxes. This is the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun on the earth. This rarity only occurs once every 26,000 years and is already in motion.

Researchers from all corners of the earth have studied these Mayan predictions, and the one thing that they can all agree upon is that the galactic alignment will, indeed, take place. What effect, however, will it have on our planet? Such an alignment with the center of the galaxy would mean more mass. More mass would mean more gravity. This could result in an array of solar disruptions causing earthquakes, tsunamis and solar flares. There are others who believe that this date marks the beginning of an age of enlightenment, and that it bears no danger to mankind.

What were the Mayans trying to tell us? Were they trying to warn us of an impending doom or attempting to open our eyes to a new era? Whatever their plight, we will have to wait until 2012 to find out.

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