The Nibiru Theory and Conspiracy

Theory:

Nibiru is a pseudoscientific proposed outer planet within our solar system, which was described by Zecharia Sitchin as early as 1976 in his book, The 12th Planet. According to Sitchin, Nibiru (called "the twelfth planet" because, Sitchin claimed the Sumerians' gods-given conception of the Solar System counted all eight planets, plus Pluto, the Sun and the Moon) was the home of a technologically advanced human-like extraterrestrial race called the Anunnaki in Sumerian myth, who are a group of deities in ancient Mesopotamian cultures (e.g. Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian, and Babylonian).

Nibiru (also transliterated Neberu and Nebiru) is a term in the Akkadian language, translating to "crossing" or "point of transition", especially of rivers, i.e. river crossings or ferry-boats.

Nibiru cataclysm is a supposed disastrous encounter between the Earth and a large planetary object (either a collision or a near-miss) which certain groups believe will take place in the early 21st century. Believers in this doomsday event usually refer to this object as Planet X, as suggested by Nancy Lieder, who originally referred to Sitchin's object as "Planet X". Some scholars believe the theory of Planet X is therein associated with Nibiru. The idea of a Nibiru cataclysm was first put forward in 1995 by Nancy Lieder, founder of the website, ZetaTalk.

A Caltech animations shows the orbit of the predicted planet and Caltech researchers have found evidence suggesting there may be a "Planet X", which they refer to as "Planet 9", deep in the solar system. This hypothetical Neptune-sized planet orbits our sun in a highly elongated orbit far beyond Pluto.

• (An AU is the distance between Earth and the sun, about 150 million kilometers.) And Planet X could roam as far as 600 to 1200 AU, well beyond the Kuiper belt, the region of small icy worlds that begins at Neptune's edge about 30 AU.

Conspiracy:

According to a large majority of the scientific community Nibiru is a hypothesised planet, even an internet hoax. However, David Meade, author of the book 'Planet X – The 2017 Arrival', believes a star, which he calls 'a binary twin of our sun', is 'coming at us towards the south pole'. He says the star will bring with it 'seven orbiting bodies', including Nibiru, which is a large, blue planet that is hurtling towards our planet. Meade surmises the world could be set to end in October this year (2017), when this mysterious planet collides with our own planet.

• Writing a piece for Planet X News, Mr Meade said: "This system is, of course, not aligned with our solar system's ecliptic, but is coming to us from an oblique angle and toward our South Pole. This makes observations difficult, unless you're flying at a high altitude over South America with an excellent camera."

Other conspiracy theorists believe the gravitational influence of the 'rogue planet' known as Nibiru [or Planet X] disrupted the orbits of other planets hundreds of years ago. They claim the next disruptive passage into the inner solar system could happen at any time.

Some Nibiru theorists claim this 'planet' is currently sending 'plasmatic energy particles' through our solar system. The flow of energy will disrupt the 'core flows' of the Earth and trigger catastrophic changes in Earth's climate.

NASA has thoroughly debunked the Nibiru myth via its Beyond 2012 page, saying, 'The story started with claims that Nibiru, a supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians, is headed toward Earth. Nibiru and other stories about wayward planets are an Internet hoax. There is no factual basis for these claims'.

• A NASA official further stated, "Nibiru and other stories about wayward planets are an Internet hoax. There is no factual basis for these claims. If Nibiru or Planet X were real and headed for an encounter with the Earth, astronomers would have been tracking it for at least the past decade, and it would be visible by now to the naked eye."