Doomsday on December 21, 2012? NASA Says Don't Count On It

Prepping for doomsday on December 21? Well you may want to take a break. NASA recently released a FAQ dispelling any rumors surrounding the end of the world based on the Mayan calendar.

The FAQ, which was released on Tuesday, stated, "The world will not end in 2012. Our planet has been getting along just fine for more than 4 billion years, and credible scientists worldwide know of no threat associated with 2012."

Predictions regarding the end of the Earth first emerged through a story that claimed a planet called Nibiru, which was supposedly discovered by the Sumerians, would hit Earth in May 2003. However, when nothing occurred the alleged doomsday was moved to December 2012. It was then linked to the end of the cycle in the ancient Mayan calendar at the winter solstice, NASA wrote.

However, the belief that the calendar ends on December 21, 2012 is not true. "Just as the calendar you have on your kitchen wall does not cease to exist after December 31, the Mayan calendar does not cease to exist on December 21, 2012," NASA said. "This date is the end of the Mayan long-count period but then-just as your calendar begins again on January 1-another long-count period begins for the Mayan calendar."

In a different information page, NASA further explained the Mayan calendar, "The Maya calendar, which is made up different cycles of day counts, does not end this year. Rather, one cycle of 144,000 days (394 years) ends and the next cycle begins."

The space agency also dispelled any rumors of planetary alignments, meteor strikes, disastrous changes and major solar activity. "Today NASA astronomers are carrying out a survey called the Spaceguard Survey to find any large near-Earth asteroids long before they hit. We have already determined that there are no threatening asteroids as large as the one that killed the dinosaurs," NASA wrote.

As for drastic changes in 2012, NASA said, "There is no credible evidence for any of the assertions made in support of unusual events taking place in December 2012."

Ultimately, NASA said, "The idea of the sudden end of the world by any cause is absurd. The Earth has been here for more than 4 billion years, and it will be several more billion years before the gradual brightening of the Sun makes our planet unlivable. Meanwhile there is no known astronomical or geological threat that could destroy the Earth."