I recently heard a rumor that the nations doomsday cults are back and working harder than ever. From what I understand, the new form of total devesation is in the form of a planet that will pass just close enough to earth that it will knock us right off orbit and screw everything up (in May 2003).
Anyone out there digging a hole to live in yet?
Nah, not much point in digging into a doomed planet.
I heard a wacko last night on Art Bell’s show (don’t ask why I was listening. I was bored waiting in the emergency room with my son – see the Kosher Dopefest thread in MPSIMS for details) talking about this. She said that another planet was going to come by Earth and cause a “Pole Shift,” whatever that is.
Zev Steinhardt
The great one has commented on pole slippage, but not related to this current fad.
Oh God! :D:D:D:D I’m not one for “me too” posting, but Gary T, you made my night with your answer!!!
Can I have your permission to use it as a sigline, please?
Even if you say no, it was a great answer!
Thanks
Quasi
If a planet (that is, a body several thousand miles in diameter) were going to approach earth close enough to result in significant gravitational effects sometime within the next year, it could hardly be a secret because anyone with a modest telescope should be able to see it by now.
Calling the Bad Astronomer…
I’m hoping to be thrown clear.
Ahhh.
Planet X.
There’s a bunch of very good reasons that you can’t see it on a telescope right now, and if you don’t believe them, you’re obviously stupid, misguided, a tool of the devil, or on the NASA payroll.
…your permission to use it as a sigline, please?
By all means, Quasi, with my compliments.
…if you don’t believe them, you’re obviously stupid, misguided, a tool of the devil, or on the NASA payroll.
Mmmm–do I get to pick which?
I heard one conspiracy nutcase say that “Planet X” is really a collapsed star… ignoring the fact that if it were indeed a collapsed star (White Dwarf or Neutron Star), we woulda noticed its gravity by now…
I’ve got a ticket on an alien spacecraft. Trouble is it is a round-trip ticket. 
No need for any concern, we’re insured.
Just make sure you get the other planet’s details and the names of any witnesses.
“Did you get a good look at the planet that hit you sir?”
“Well it was kinda round and appeared to have a methane atmosphere and a liquid core but thats all i can remember - sorry. It just happened so fast…”
"I was proceeding in a clockwise direction around the Sun, when a large planet that I had hitherto not noticed, approached me from out of nowhere at a speed well in excess of the limit. This planet had driven through a red light at Mars, right into my path. Using a radio telescope in South America, I signalled to the other planet that I had right of way, but it did not respond, and the collision was unavoidable.
“Damage to my planet includes a reversal of the polar axes, which will cost $35 trillion to repair, as well as a large hole left when the offending planet knocked off my planet’s Belgium. There is also a dent in my Luxembourg.”
If it were that close and bearing down on us, you’d be able to see it with the naked eye by now. Unless it was camouflaged. Maybe a big black cloak.
As long as we ‘Duck and cover’ It will be ok…
Though what water fowl have to do with it is anyones guess.
I’m hoping my leftover Y2K provisions will see me through this one…
Mmmmmmmmmmmm … leftover Y2K provisions … glglgrlrlglglrl
Hmmm. If “Planet X” was actually a smallish black hole, approaching from outside the plane of the ecliptic, say from solar “north,” how long would it take before we noticed it’s gravitational effects? As I understand black holes they have a very steep gravity curve, (I’m thinking of the distorted rubber sheet view here), so one could get relatively close before actually causing any disturbance on a planet. I say outside the plane of the ecliptic because then it wouldn’t pass through the orbital paths of any of the other planets.
Say it ain’t so!