Why

the World Wont End Next Month:

The Mayan Calendar and Astronomical Doomsday Scenariosxt
A presenta*on by Sco$ Calvin, Sarah Lawrence College Faculty of Physics

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When the Gregorian calendar achieved the round number of 2000 eleven years ago, some expected it would be the end of the world. Next month, the Maya Long Count calendar will also hit a nice round number: 13 b'ak'tun. This Hme around, instead of expecHng to be wiped out by a massive computer failure, aIenHon has turned to the heavens, presumably because the classical Maya knew more about astronomy than they did about programming computers. We will examine several astronomical doomsday scenarios that have become associated with 2012, including solar storms, geomagneHc reversals, supernovae, and impacts by comets, asteroids, and previously unknown planets. How plausible are these scenarios? How much damage will they do? In the end, we will esHmate the probability of Earth suering an astronomical catastrophe next month.

Wednesday, November 14 7:00pm Bronxville High School Auditorium

Friday, November 9, 12