# Are we all gonna die in 2003? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 27, 2002, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031 "2002-11-27T04:07:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mister\_me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@mister\_me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mister_me)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/1 "2002-11-27T04:07:45Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/2 "2002-11-27T04:24:07Z")
Nah, not much point in digging into a doomed planet. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/3 "2002-11-27T04:24:18Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Cooper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@Cooper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cooper)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/4 "2002-11-27T04:33:51Z")
The great one has commented on pole slippage, but not related to this current fad. [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_117.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_117.html) ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/5 "2002-11-27T04:35:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gary T \* > \*\*Nah, not much point in digging into a doomed planet. \*\* 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 ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/6 "2002-11-27T05:15:23Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/7 "2002-11-27T05:58:59Z")
I’m hoping to be thrown clear. ---
**Author:** ![XPav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b77776/32.png) [@XPav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XPav)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/8 "2002-11-27T06:05:33Z")
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. [http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/misc/planetx/index.html](http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/misc/planetx/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/9 "2002-11-27T06:15:10Z")
_…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? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/10 "2002-11-27T06:42:40Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/11 "2002-11-27T07:31:16Z")
I’ve got a ticket on an alien spacecraft. Trouble is it is a **round-trip ticket.** 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/12 "2002-11-27T10:57:47Z")
No need for any concern, we’re insured. Just make sure you get the other planet’s details and the names of any witnesses. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/13 "2002-11-27T11:24:36Z")
“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…” ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/14 "2002-11-27T11:47:16Z")
"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.” ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/15 "2002-11-27T13:31:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El\_Kabong \* > \*\*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. \*\* 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. ---
**Author:** ![Squirebob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Squirebob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squirebob)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/16 "2002-11-27T13:36:12Z")
As long as we ‘Duck and cover’ It will be ok… Though what water fowl have to do with it is anyones guess. ---
**Author:** ![RAWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@RAWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RAWDuke)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/17 "2002-11-27T13:45:52Z")
I’m hoping my leftover Y2K provisions will see me through this one… ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/18 "2002-11-27T15:10:00Z")
Mmmmmmmmmmmm … leftover Y2K provisions … glglgrlrlglglrl ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/19 "2002-11-27T16:11:59Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2002, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031/20 "2002-11-27T16:45:02Z")
Say it ain’t so! [Dirty Dancing 2 to be released November 2003](http://www.upcomingmovies.com/dirtydancing2.html) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-all-gonna-die-in-2003/139031.md?page=2)