h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi there, and thanks for reviewing my page.

You have made a good start, and introduced some extra scenarios that I did not mention. I have submitted my site to the editors so because of your forum entry, ( if they choose to accept it ) they may well add some of your submissions too, so I would encourage you to keep on adding to your list.

I noticed one factual inaccuracy regarding the Hale-Bopp comet. It's true that HB was a mega comet, but in fact its closest approach to Earth was a safe 197 million miles, so no real danger there. However we did get very close and personal to a different comet 1 year earlier - Comet Hyakutake. This comet passed within a mere 15 million miles from our world, which in astronomical terms is a bit too close for comfort.

I am interested in your submission on Planetary Alignment - I heard about this one somewhere before, and it seems a strange one if there are people out there that take this one seriously! All the planets in our solar system are completely dominated by the Sun's gravity, so the relative effect of the other planets is relatively minor.

To check out stats and figures on what you are researching it is worth going to AskJeeves (http://www.askjeeves.com/) and asking the question you want to ask in straight English. It will usually point you to a website that will answer your questions.

Hi again . Thanks for taking the time to look at the page, it's much appreciated.
Much of the info in it was from memory to get it started, and I intended to verify some of the stuff in it one part of which was the H.B. comet. I have confused it with comet Hyakutake. I remember at the time it was bandied around that it was going to come close. Thanks for that. Memory playing tricks you see.
Incidentally, there may be more. You may already have read of the 'finding' of a new planet by Dr John Murray believed to be the size of Jupiter or larger at about 3million/million miles out which is causing disturbences in the outer fringes of the solar system which is deflecting a series of comets in towards the centre.
Another iffy bit is the Tanguska comet. As far as I can ascertain opinion seems divided between Comet and Meteorite. I remember it being put down to a comet some years ago but several accounts I've read seems to favour a Meteorite that blew up on entry. I can't reconcile myself to an (iron) meteorite not leaving some trace or crater though. I'll stick with the comet for the moment.
The Planetary alignment one was put about at the time, trouble is I can't remember the year exactly, I'm still looking that one up.I can well remember watching Jupiter and Saturn getting practically together, it was quite a sight! Speculation at the time (in newspapers) suggested the imbalance as Uranus & Neptune were pretty well on the same line of sight, (although out of sight). Patrick Moore mentioned it on his 'Sky at Night' program and debunked the idea. It was also speculated that a similar alignment (of J & S) 2K years before was the 'Star of Bethlehem'.
Another 'Belief' I came accross in my travels was that of the 'Earth Changes' or 'Avenging Planet' That is that 'Earth' as an entity creates or sends the various plagues, famines earthquakes w.h.y. in an effort to rid itself of mankind which it regards as a pestillance. The jury's still out on that one though.
Another interesting site to visit if you don't know it already is http://www.apocalypseprettysoon.com
I'm sure your page will get accepted, I thought it was great anyway. All the best A.M.