This diagram depicts the Mayan Long Count Calendar, one of three calendars used in the Mayan culture. The long count spans roughly 26,400 years, the starting point of which is mythological in orign and corresponds to 3114 BCE in the Julian calendar. By its nature the Long Count can be extended to include any date in the futre or past. Here it is divided bty its largest unit of measurement, the b’akt’un. The Mayan Calendar is cyclical, and this particular cycle ends on December 21, 2012 (written 13.0.0.0.0 in the Mayan calendar). The ongoing popular debate explores what will happen at the conclusion of this cycle: many use this date to mark an apocalyptic event, while many others view it as a literal rebirth or spiritual awakening.

This diagram describes what is known as the cycle of precession, which breaks down the cycle of time into twelve periods 2,200 years in length. These periods mark the place of the sun in the vernal equinox through successive constallations of the zodiac. 

Some believe that as we pass out of our currnet age, the Age of Pisces, into the Age of Aquarius, we will experience a world changing phenomenon. This age overlaps with the end of the Mayan calendar within a few hundred years. The following ages are (listed clockwise): Pisces, Aquarius, Taurus, Sagitarius, Scorpio, Libra, Virgo, Leo, Cancer, Gemini, Capricorn.

In this diagram the earth is represented as the largest planet orbiting the sun. A dotted line bisecting both the earth and the sun represents the galactic equator. On december 21, 2012 the earth will cross over the galactic equator, at which time the sun will eclipse the center of the galaxy which is thought to contain a black hole.

This galactic eclipse occurs roughly every 26,000 years. Scientist are unsure as to what effects this will have on the earth which will become temporarily cut off from the most powerful gravitational force in the galaxy. Some scientist believe that this temporary disruption may cause a shift in the Earth's magnetic field, creating a polar shift, an event which has happened several times in Earth's history. What causes this polar shift is still up for debate.

This diagram plots the exact location of each planet in our solar system at 12:00 am on december 21, 2012. The distance between the outer orbits of Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, and Jupiter, have been scaled down 50% while the distance between the inner planets of Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars have been increased by 200%. This scaling adjustment allows this diagram to efficiently display all the necessary information.

Some scientists believe that crossing the glactic equator may cause a shift in the Earth's magnetic field, creating a polar shift, an event which has happened several times in Earth's history. What causes this polar shift is still up for debate.

As solar wind approaches Earth the charged particles are deflected by the Earth's magnetic field, causing the particles to travel around the planet rather than directly bombarding the atmosphere or surface of the planet. Recently scientist have noticed a decay in the earth's magnetic field, creating gaps which would potentially expose satellites to the direct solar wind. Some scientist believe that increased solar activity correlating with a decay in the earth's magnetic field could be potentially hazardous to the planet earth. Increased solar wind could potentially directly effecting its inhabitants in some unknown capacity, or by knockitng out, or temporarily disrupting satellite communication.