Question

I've read an article suggesting that the entire solar system is experiencing global warming. This fits in with the galactic alignment prediction, I have in fact seen documents about it by scientists. Anyway, so close to the centre of the galaxy some rays are emitted? And if the solar system is moving through the centre of the galaxy, then it would heat up the solar system too, correct?

You have asked a complicated question, so forgive a long answer. (1) There is no general evidence of heating of the solar system; the article you read is wrong if it said so. What is clear is that the Earth is heating rather rapidly due primarily to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. (2) There is no galactic alignment. This is one of the stranger claims of the 2012 conspiracy theories. I am certain that this has not been stated or predicted by scientists. The solar system is slowly orbiting within the galaxy at a distance of about 30,000 light years from the center, and nothing special is happening now or in 2012. (3) Everything in the universe emits "rays". These emissions cover the entire electromagnetic spectrum from long-wave radio to short-wave x-rays and gamma-rays. The center of our Milky Way Galaxy includes some relatively strong emitters, but at a distance of 30,000 light years they have no effect on the solar system. (4) The solar system is not in any sense moving through or toward the center of the galaxy. We are in a slow nearly circular orbit about the galactic center with a period of roughly 250 million years. (5) The only sources of heat for planets and moons originate within the solar system: primarily the Sun, of course, but also from internal radioactivity and in some cases from tides. For the inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) the only significant source of heating is sunlight. The galactic center is irrelevant. (6) If we are worried about our planet and its life, we need to look at what is really happening to threaten us: global warming from increased greenhouse gases, and destruction of habitat and loss of biological diversity. All these rumors and lies about 2012 obscure the real issues we all need to grapple with.

David Morrison
NAI Senior Scientist
December 19, 2008