maybe maybe just maybe they did it the same way everyone else did.

Parallax measurements from sundials.

I get it! They predicted virtually all the lunar and solar eclipses as well as the 26,000 year procession of the equinoxes with the naked eye and a couple of sticks in the dirt. Amazing! Without a Big Chief tablet and a #2 pencil too!

I'm still not clear on how the most sacredly held knowledge of the Dogon people came to be that a matchbox full of the material which Sirius A is composed of would weigh a ton, and that it has a companion star(not confirmed until 1975) which travels through space with it in a helical orbit(the orbital occilations were not detectable until 1975 and we still can't see Sirius B). But thanks for clearing up the Mayan thing for me.

Well if you know me, you know I would say aliens, but it could be an ancient advanced (earth bound) alien civilization that figured it out.

From what I have looked into, and I can't find the site, the basis for the calendar, they were not aware of the galaxy or where the solar system was in the galaxy. I think it was figured mathematically. They believed the sun was the center of the universe.

Aliens traversing the galaxy would know better.

anything vertical can be used as a sundial, and once you have the measurements of the movements of the earth down then any stellar observation can be mapped if you have enough patience and a clear enough sky.

All of your ranting past off topic would be news to me, so if you can show the direct translations that lead us to believe that had that knowledge that would be great.

I think you could be right

OK. You convinced me. Now I will take the course everyone else here seems to have taken with you and not dignify your future comments with a response.

Your right I was being mean asking for any information to back up your assertions.

Whatever happens on december 21st 2012 it will be of our own doing, when the sun rises on that day we as a people have it within us to make it the first day of a new era. We've lived with the age of fear for too long, this will be a real chance to go forward technologically, spiritually and philosophically, a chance to put the old ways behind us.

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/10mar_stormwarning.htm

From Nasa – Solar storm warning expected between 2010 – 2012.
The last one was 1958 – but we didn’t have the technology or the dependence on it at that time, for us to take much notice. Not that there weren’t signs, and who knows, it might have been a phenomenal maximum event that put an end to the dino’s. ?? It’s certain, however, that a maximum event would affect almost all our communications, including airport towers, tower to plane and vice versa communications and internet. It’s possible there could even be incredible amounts of crime – consider the security systems that are on-line or need satellite to function. Once again consider hospitals, how “connected” are hospitals and their patients to the kind of technology that might be interrupted by a solar storm of any magnitude?

I guess that’s about as much concern as I can muster for any particular prophecy.
OTHER STUFF OF INTEREST:

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2008/04/15/2217547.htm?site=science/greatmomentsinscience

Very interesting article – explains the Mayan calendar and how the whole concept of the year 2012 as “end date” arose.


http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/today.html

Here’s the NOAA space weather prediction center. Lots of boring information here, but so far there is no activity indicating the beginning of the expected solar maximum. But add the link to your favorites and check it every few months. IF YOU WANT!

You know until the internet happened the year 2012 was significant only to those scientists studying the Mayan ruins, and the few of us who happen to read about weird stuff like that – the problem is, if there’s science fiction to write and money to be made and if the religious fundamentalists can find ONE MORE CHANCE to gather in the sheep on the basis of a dooms day event - it will be done.

So tell me – what do you think? As for me – if I could afford it, I might consider investing in a storage unit and finding some old electric heart lung machines. If my Aunt and Mom are still around they may need one.

It is my firm belief that the Mayans were simply a very smart and organized group of people. The tools they had available were nothing like what we have now, but there's a lot you can do with just a little string, some straight sticks, a lot of patience, some luck, and a brilliant mind.

Pythagoras proved that the earth's surface was not flat using stuff like that.

Also, keep in mind that they had a lot of strict rules to follow connected to their religion and culture. There were people who had a duty to figure things out. A super-accurate calendar just happened to be one of those things.

Are we even going to make it past 2009?

Some of us won't make it. That's life. I doubt if you will get out of it alive.

Far better question.