The Galactic Alignment is the alignment of
the December solstice sun with the Galactic
equator. This alignment occurs as a result
of the precession of the equinoxes.
Precession is caused by the earth wobbling
very slowly on its axis and shifts the position
of the equinoxes and solstices one degree every
71.5 years. Because the sun is one-half of
a degree wide, it will take the December solstice
sun 36 years to precess through the Galactic
equator (see diagram below).
The precise alignment of the solstice point
(the precise center-point of the body of the
sun as viewed from earth) with the Galactic
equator was calculated to occur in 1998 (Jean
Meeus, Mathematical Astronomy Morsels, 1997).
Thus, the Galactic Alignment "zone" is
1998 +/- 18 years = 1980 - 2016. This is "era-2012."
This Galactic Alignment occurs only once every
26,000 years, and was what the ancient Maya
were pointing to with the 2012 end-date of
their Long Count calendar.
These are the astronomical facts of the matter.
From a larger perspective, we can visualize
the 2012 Galactic Alignment in the following
way:
Position A is where the December solstice
sun was in relation to the Milky Way some 3,000
years ago. Position B is 1,500 years ago. And
position C is "era-2012", when the
December solstice sun has converged, as a result
of the precession of the equinoxes, with the
exact center-line of the Milky Way (the Galactic
equator). Notice that the place of alignment
is where the 'nuclear bulge' of the Galactic
Center is located.
A long awaiting digital portrayal of precession
and galactic alignments is now available on
Nick
Fiorenza's web site.
Descriptions of the process are also there,
but it should be noted that Nick describes
what I refer to as "the solstice-galaxy
alignment" with a preference for the equinox
as the measuring reference. Thus, he speaks
of the "Holy Cross" of the equinox
axis and the Milky Way. The point is that "solstice-galaxy
alignment" and "equinox-galaxy cross" refer
to the same event.
It is my hope that the these definitions will
help to standardize the terminology so we can
clearly discuss the rare precessional alignment
that culminates in era-2012.
Glossary:
The ecliptic: The path followed by the sun,
moon, and planets. It is the plane of our solar
system. The ecliptic encircles the earth and
is divided into twelve constellations, or zodiac
signs.
The Milky Way: The bright band of star that
our solar system belongs to. It encircles the
earth and is wider in the region of Sagittarius
because that is where the 'nucelar bulge" of
the Milky Way's center is located (our Milky
Way is saucer shaped).
The Galactic equator: The precise mid-line
running down the Milky Way. Analogous to the
earth's equator, it divides the galaxy into
two hemispheres, or lobes.
The Dark Rift in the Milky Way: A feature
caused by interstellar dust that runs along
the Milky Way from the Galactic Center northward
past the constellation of Aquila.
The December solstice sun: The sun, on the
December solstice. It is one-half of a degree
wide.
The December solstice point: The precise midpoint
of the sun, on the December solstice.
The Precession of the equinoxes: The earth
wobbles very slowly on its axis and this causes
the position of the equinox to shift backwards,
or precess, through the signs of the ecliptic
at the rate of one degree every 71.5 years.
The full precessional wobble is complete in
roughly 25,800 years.
The vernal equinox point is defined by the
intersection of the ecliptic and the celestial
equator.
The Celestial Equator: The earth's equator
projected into the stars. It is the plane of
the earth's rotation.
The Cross formed by the Milky Way
and the ecliptic: Exactly as stated. There are two
of these, one in early Sagittarius, the other
in early Gemini. The former cross has the virtue
of being located within the nuclear bulge of
the Galactic Center.
The nuclear bulge / the Galactic Center: A
bright and wide region of the Milky Way, visible
to the naked eye and between Sagittarius and
Scorpio. The more precise and abstract center-point
of the nuclear bulge is the precise Galactic
Center, located at about 6 degrees Sagittarius
(sidereal) and 27 degrees in the tropical zodiac.
Additional Glossary of Mayan Calendar terms
We can have a more general discussion of galactic
alignments in history if we consider that the
solstice axis aligns with the galactic equator
every half precession cycle. Likewise, the
equinox axis aligns with the galactic equator
every half precession cycle. Thus, galactic
alignments, more generally speaking, occur
in era 2012 (1980 - 2016) and every quarter
precession cycle before and after era 2012.
In terms of Mayan astronomy and mythology,
the Dark Rift feature (which the Maya called
the Black Road or Xibalba be) lies along the
galactic equator (the Milky Way) in the place
where the December solstice sun will be in
2012. (More precisely, the December solstice
sun will reach the southern terminus of the
Dark Rift, where it touches the ecliptic in
Sagittarius.) Thus, in terms of Mayan mythology,
we can also describe the Galactic Alignment
of era-2012 as the alignment of the December
solstice sun and the Dark Rift. This entire
region is targeted by the cross formed by the
Milky Way and the ecliptic between Sagittarius
and Scorpio. This Cross was also recognized
by the Maya, and was called the Crossroads
or Sacred Tree. This entire region is embraced
by what astronomers call the 'nuclear bulge'
of the Galactic Center—the center of
our Milky Way galaxy. As any amateur astronomer
or naked-eye star gazer knows, this nuclear
bulge is recognizable without the aid of radio
telescopes. It is wider and brighter than other
parts of the Milky Way. So, in a general sense
we can also say that the alignment in 2012
is an alignment between the December solstice
sun and the Galactic Center. However, since
the nuclear bulge is quite large, this definition
is not as precise as saying "the alignment
of the December solstice sun with the Galactic
equator", which occurs in the range 1980
- 2016. This is the alignment zone I refer
to with the term "era-2012."
