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See other sub-tabs for articles specific to Cydonia, Mars, or other solar
system bodies.
Artwork ©1982
Sally J. Bensusen, http://www.visualsciencestudio.com
The Exploded
Planet Hypothesis (EPH) offers an alternative explanation for the origin of the
asteroid belts and comets. For an overview, see Tom Van
Flandern's book Dark Matter, Missing Planets & New
Comets or read the updated summary posted here, "The
Exploded Planet Hypothesis -- 2000". There are presently three
known explosion mechanisms.
Far from being a new idea, the EPH fell out of favor with mainstream
scientists, primarily for lack of a viable causal theory. However there is a
growing body of evidence that suggests planetary explosions may not even be
uncommon (see "A
Revision of the Exploded Planet Hypothesis"). While most
astronomers believe the solar system has remained essentially unchanged since
its formation, "The
Original Solar System" and "Origin of
Trans-Neptunian Asteroids" offer a very different perspective.
Consistent with our mission
statement, the EPH makes falsifiable predictions. One way the EPH has
distinguished itself from competitive theories is in predicting that many comets and asteroids will have satellites. The
satellites of comet Hale-Bopp, discovery of the asteroid Ida's moon Dactyl,
and the "Near Challenge
Results" are all examples of the success of this genuine prediction.
The EPH was recently used to make exceptionally accurate predictions of the November
1999 Leonids meteor storm, as well as for the two subsequent years. See the
complete 2000 and 2001 predictions. This same methodology
also predicted another Leonids
storm in 2002 as well as a Perseids
storm in 2004.
Finally, because the EPH offers a simple explanation for the sudden and
dramatic pole shifts on Mars and the crustal dichotomy of the planet, the EPH
has been connected with the Cydonia story.
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