26.2 MY Mass Extinctions
A Proposal for a Semi-Stellar Body Orbiting Sol
J. H. L. Lawler
"Lucifer" — A Dark Body Orbiting Sol
It is proposed that there is strong evidence for a very large, dark body orbiting Sol at a median distance of about 1.389 light years, with a period of 26.2 million years.
It must be in a highly eccentric orbit such that it returns to the vicinity of the Solar system every 26.2 million years. The last such intrusion was about 11 million years ago — hence it will be near its maximal distance now.
The name LUCIFER has been previously proposed for such a body. If indeed it brings the chaos this theory predicts — if it did cause mass extinctions and break up a minor planet — then that name is all too appropriate.
Properties of the Postulated Body
Mass
~0.1 Solar masses
Larger than Jupiter — of stellar mass but with enough heavy elements to quench the solar hydrogen fires
Median Distance
~1.389 light years
Currently near maximal distance from the Solar system
Orbital Period
26.2 million years
Highly eccentric orbit; last intrusion approximately 11 million years ago
Detection Method
IR or Radio Telescope
Too dark and too far for telescopic reflection of Solar light; perturbations of Pluto may also help pin down location
The Case for Lucifer
Periodic Mass Extinctions
The most important evidence is the periodic mass extinction of species reported by A. G. Fisher (though he did not completely determine the period). These extinctions occur with an equation of 11 + n(26.2) million years into the past. They can be traced for a full 25 cycles back to 666 million years ago. Cycles 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 22, 24, and 25 are all clear — involving in most cases up to a 95% extinction of all species. Cycles 3, 4, 6, 7, and perhaps 17 are lesser extinctions at approximately a 75% extinction level.
Pluto — A Torn Moon of Neptune
The second evidence is Pluto — a former moon of Neptune that has been torn from its orbit about its former primary. The periods of Pluto (248.35 years) and Neptune (164.784 years) suggest a common element of 40,924 years for the most recent event of 11,000,000 years ago, requiring 268 full cycles. More significantly: the vector to this postulated body is directed by the line where the two orbital planes of Pluto and Neptune intersect — the place where their orbits, run backwards to account for precessions, meet. The orbital planes provide an adequate vector pointing in the right general direction, with length set by the 11 million years out of the 26.2 million year period. "Look there."
Cometary and Irregular Asteroid Debris
The third evidence is the cometary and irregular asteroid debris of the Solar system. In a static situation one would expect circular orbits and irregulars to be absent. If there is an intruder, it would stir things up every pass — and we would expect to find minor asteroids in eccentric orbits, just as we do. In fact the asteroids may be the ruins of a former small planet broken up by this visitor, which carried off as much as 90% of the mass, leaving the residual iron (core) and rocky (mantle) fragments we now observe.
25 Cycles — 666 Million Years
The extinction equation 11 + n(26.2) million years traces 25 full cycles into the deep past. Major extinction events (≥95% of species) and lesser events (~75%) are distributed as follows:
Extinction Equation
11 + n(26.2) MY
Million years before present — where n = 0, 1, 2 … 24
Major Extinctions (≥95% of species)
Cycles 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 22, 24, 25
Lesser Extinctions (~75% of species)
Cycles 3, 4, 6, 7, and perhaps 17
If indeed it brings the chaos that this theory predicts, and if it did cause mass extinctions and break up a minor planet, then that name is all too appropriate.
— J. H. L. Lawler, IJS Vol. 4, p. 58 — 23 May 1984