A line-up of planets in the solar system could cause an earthquake here on Earth it has been claimed. This is because Earth, Mars and Jupiter have become positioned in specific places in our solar system which could apparently cause seismic unrest on our planet. The bold claim was made by ‘Earthquake mystic’ Frank Hoogerbeets, who believes the gravitational pull from our celestial neighbours will cause tension to build in Earth’s tectonic plates.
Mr Hoogerbeets believes the tension could be released on the form of a magnitude seven earthquake today, with seismic activity going all the way through to May 11.
The Dutch researcher wrote on his website Ditrianum: “Critical planetary and lunar geometry, especially the Earth-Mars-Jupiter alignment, could trigger larger seismic activity later on the 6th or 7th, possibly high 6 to 7 magnitude.
“Additional geometry on the 7th and 8th may cause a continuation of seismic unrest from the 8th to the 10th-11th.”
The Dutch researcher reached his conclusion using his Solar System Geometry Index (SSGI) which “is the computation of a dataset for a specific time-frame of values given to specific geometric positions of the planets, the Moon and the Sun”.
He said: “After three years of observations, it became clear that some planetary geometry in the Solar System clearly tends to cause a seismic increase, while other geometry does not.”
But experts have previously dismissed Mr Hoogerbeets’ claims, saying that there is no way earthquakes can be predicted.
John Bellini, a geophysicist at the US Geological Survey (USGS) has said: “We can’t predict or forecast earthquakes.
“Sometimes before a large earthquake you’ll have a foreshock or two, but we don’t know they’re foreshocks until the big one happens.”
The USGS completely denies that earthquakes can be forecasted, writing on its website: “Neither the USGS nor any other scientists have ever predicted a major earthquake.
“We do not know how, and we do not expect to know how any time in the foreseeable future.”