Sun's Movement Through Milky Way Regularly Sends Comets Hurtling

[Oblivion]

As some of you are no doubt aware the solar system passes the Galactic plane in 2012. Well according to latest theorys this crossing of the galactic plane causes comets to hurtle towards the Earth in cyclic periods:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080502092145.htm

Another interesting article about dark comets:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126954.800-dark-comets-may-pose-threat-to-earth.html

[CFTraveler]

Just for the sake of clarification, what is the Galactic Plane, and what makes it a plane?

[zareste]

Interesting.
Well, there are humanoids up there making sure nothing too devastating can slam into Earth - at least not in the area of their bases. So the chances of worldwide death by meteor are a bit low (although still possible)

[Oblivion]

Just for the sake of clarification, what is the Galactic Plane, and what makes it a plane?

It's a plane because the super massive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way is so large it's compressed into the shape of a flat disc, the level of this flat disc is known as the Galactic plane or Galactic Equator.

[CFTraveler]

I kind of like this one better.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/03/000329080630.htm

Anyway, I'd worry about asteroids more than comets.
And, was Jupiter where it is now when the last exctinction happened? (what was it, 38 million years ago?)

[greggkroodsma]

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/gallery/Movies/comets.html

This will show that comets have been coming into our solar system, but watch what the sun does; how it flares out at the comets.  That's not a trivial thing.  If the sun passes the galactic plane and it starts pulling comets this way, the sun will protect itself or saying it differently, the sun has an opposite charge than a comet and when the comet passes, it will 'pull out' some of the sun changing the trajectory.  Look at what happened on June 2, 1998.  Two bodies were pulled into the sun.  What happened on earth in 1998?  It was about 3 years before the end of the solar cycle.  Now it is about 3 years before the end of a solar cycle, maybe there is something that we can see.

[Fourthdimension]

What is the purpose of the galactic plane?

i m no scientist lol but i heard that we have a greater graviational pull then that of mars or venus
so if something like an asteroid or comet came in the general area of mars us and vebus would we be the likely planet to get hit by it?
if the asteroid/comet did come hurling towards us would the gravitational pull of our moon not be significant enough to lure the comet/asteroid ito imapct with the moon?

[CFTraveler]

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/gallery/Movies/comets.html

This will show that comets have been coming into our solar system, but watch what the sun does; how it flares out at the comets.  That's not a trivial thing.  If the sun passes the galactic plane and it starts pulling comets this way,

I may be extra dense but I don't understand what you are saying.

the sun will protect itself or saying it differently, the sun has an opposite charge than a comet and when the comet passes, it will 'pull out' some of the sun changing the trajectory.

Just how big are you supposin' a comet is?  How will a comet 'pull out' the sun?  I really don't understand this question.  Maybe you want to read this: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/01oct_encke.htm

Look at what happened on June 2, 1998.  Two bodies were pulled into the sun.  What happened on earth in 1998? 

You got me.  Did something happen in the earth?