Comments on: Bobbing for extinctions

By: Don Schindhelm

Don Schindhelm — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:49:55 +0000

I didn’t see anyone mention that there is growing evidence for the theory that our sun is a binary star, and that the reason for the bobbing above and below the galactic plane is because of the orbit around a center of gravity (most likely a small black hole) between the two stars. See orbit of binary stars http://www.oglethorpe.edu/faculty/~m_rulison/Astronomy/Chap%2017/Images/binary_star_orbit.gif

The discovery of exoplanet Sedna and its strange orbit is just one recent piece of evidence that supports this theory. The theory is that we cannot see or detect our second sun, which ranges only 1 to 3 light years away locked in an elongated elliptical orbit around the black hole. Our Sun’s sister star will supposedly peek out from behind the black hole, for a brief period of time, during the galactic alignment.

Following the logic of this theory, the mass extinctions by “Comet Showers” is made possible, by the Sun’s twin star when the two come into closer proximity around the center causing an intense gravitational disturbance of the Ort Belt , home to trillions of comets. During that time period the solar system would be careening with comets. (Time to stop focusing on Homeland Security and start revving up our Home Planet Security)

A big proponent of the binary star theory is The Binary Research Institute. http://www.binaryresearchinstitute.org

By: Baxter J

Baxter J — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:15:50 +0000

Well, frankly, I don’t see what the commotion – **interrupted by asteroid impact**

By: the new shelton wet/dry

the new shelton wet/dry — Tue, 27 May 2008 21:28:36 +0000

[...] The Sun’s orbit around the center of the galaxy is a potential problem. [...]

By: Centauri Dreams » Blog Archive » Weekend Reading on Catastrophe

Centauri Dreams » Blog Archive » Weekend Reading on Catastrophe — Sat, 10 May 2008 18:36:25 +0000

[...] held this week at the Space Cynics site. This week I’ll send you to Bad Astronomy’s essay on the role our position in the galaxy may play in mass extinctions. This is Phil Plait’s [...]

By: alphonso

alphonso — Fri, 09 May 2008 08:53:38 +0000

Just read this post (thanks to F Cain for the link).
All I can say is…

bugger.

By: More Collisions with Comets « My Dark Sky

More Collisions with Comets « My Dark Sky — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:16:14 +0000

[...] Solar System is at its “maximum” bounce towards the galactic north, it’s about 100 light years above the plane. This is not a good place to be because of the weakening magnetic fields of our galaxy, in which [...]

By: Tom Marking

Tom Marking — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:17:38 +0000

“While the famous K/T mass extinction is correlated with and may have been topped up by an impactor, apparently there are indications that continental and sea changes from continental drift softened up the ecological systems beforehand.”

It is also associated with a period of severe volcanism which formed the Deccan traps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deccan_Traps

“The bulk of the volcanic eruption occurred at the Western Ghats (near Bombay) some 66 million years ago. This series of eruptions may have lasted fewer than 30,000 years in total. The gases released in the process may have played a role in the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event, which included the extinction of the dinosaurs.”