Talk:Maya calendar/Archives/2004/May

"Galactic center"

the Maya chose the start date for their long count so that the alignment of the Sun with the Galactic Center will occur on the end date -- what does this mean? As two points determine a line, is the Sun not always in alignment with the Galactic Center? Or does it mean that the Sun, the Earth and the Galactic center are in alignment? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mzellers (talk • contribs) 15:46, 13 May 2004‎ (UTC)

I don't know, and I'm very skeptical of that statement. Unless there is some explanation/clarification I will remove it from the article and move it here to talk. The Maya calendar articles and the Aztec calendar articles, IMO, are something of a mess at present, and I've so far been reluctant to jump into the major work they need. -- Infrogmation 16:02, 13 May 2004 (UTC)

According to some students of the Maya calendar, the Maya chose the start date for their long count so that the alignment of the Sun with the Galactic Center will occur on the end date, although according to astronomers it is not possible to specify such an "alignment" with a precision of less than a few years.

As no objection or expanation has appeared since, I've moved the above statement from the article to here. -- Infrogmation 21:23, 26 May 2004 (UTC)