Planets Aligning in 2012 any info

Planets Aligning in 2012 any info?

A friend told me that in 2012 all of the planets in our solar system will align causing world wide catastrophe.
Does anyone know anything about this?.

Other Answers:

If I remember correctly, this was the plot of a Tomb Raider movie. I am guessing your friend is not a real scientist, Well, I am, and I know it is impossible for the planets in the Solar System to line up because they are in slightly different planes relative to each other. I also know that even if it were possible for them to align, it wouldn't make any difference. Of all the matter in the Solar System, the Sun comprises over 99%, the planet Jupiter contains half of what's left, with everything else added together making up the rest. Far from causing catastrophe, nothing at all would even notice any effect! But it cannot happen anyway.

There are no major planetary alignments in 2012; this is a myth. An alignment of _all_ the planets is so rare that it has never happened, not even once, in the entire 5 billion year history of the Solar System. Even if it did happen, no catastrophe would result, because the planets are so far apart that any alignment would have just about zero effect.

Firstly there is absolutely NOT going to be an alignment in 2012. The current positions of the planet make that entirely impossible.

Secondly, even if there was, it would make no difference. There was a rough alignment a few years ago, when all five naked eye planets appeared close together in the sky. The only thing that happened was that a higher than normal number of people took pictures of the sky at that time.

No, that's complete nonsense.

There are two big problems with this claim:

1. It's physically impossible for all of the planets in our solar system to align. They do not all orbit in the same plane, so they will never line up in a straight line, this year or any other year.

2. Even if it were possible, it would not have any noticeable effect on anything — certainly not a "world wide catastrophe". How could it? What possible effect could it have?