When Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury and Venus gather in the same area of the sky about May 1-10, nothing will happen to cause earthquakes, tidal waves or the sky to fall, said Ron Kaitchuck, an astronomy professor.

The sun will be in the center of the group. The earth will be on one side of the sun and five of the other planets on the other side. The last time there was a like grouping was 1982. It was known as the "Great Planet Lineup." Some predicted the lineup would set western California adrift in the Pacific Ocean.

"This kind of gathering of planets happens about every 20 years and I remember the last time when all sorts of hoopla was being made about it," Kaitchuck said. "I was at another university and people were calling us all day long, just scared to death that the world was going to come to an end."

Doomsayers claim the combined gravity of the planets will cause problems on Earth. However, Kaitchuck said even if all nine of the solar system's planets were lined up, the pull of gravity would still have no effect on Earth.

The grouping of the five planets also will be unseen because they will be lost in the glare of the sun, he said.

"I don't know why people get all worked up about these things that are nothing more than natural movements of the planets," Kaitchuck said. "And, I don't know the motivation for people predicting disasters in their books or on their Web pages other than to make money or be famous."

On the evening of May 4 in North America, the five brightest planets along with the moon and sun will be grouped within a 26-degree sector of the sky. However, Mars will be the only planet far enough from the sun to remain above the horizon after sunset and be seen with the naked eye.

By Marc Ransford, Communications Manager

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Kaitchuck at rkaitchu@bsu.eduor (765) 285-8871.)