At this point in time (1988), it appears that two books, much less one, cannot do justice to the topic of catastrophism during the Old Testament era, and earlier. "Earlier" could include a span of seven thousand years of continuous cyclic catastrophes preceding the Noachian Flood. Following are some of the issues which need treatment, not in a popular vein so much as treatment on a technical level.

THE 108-YEAR CYCLICISM OF CATASTROPHES. In this present thematic, historical treatment of catastrophism, the technical aspects have not been explained; yet they need to be. A technical treatment of cyclicism needs to begin with a general discussion of resonance orbits and how they behave, which behavior is different than that of non-resonant orbits.

Of interest, for instance, is the behavior of the asteroid Alinda, which is in 8:1 orbital resonance with Jupiter. Its line of apsides (the long axis of the ellipse) is perpendicular to Jupiter's line of apsides. Alinda's present behavior mirrors certain aspects of that of the Martian orbit during the catastrophic era, when it was in 6:1 (not 3:1) resonance with Jupiter's orbit. Of even more interest is the behavior of a trio of asteroids in 2:1 orbital resonance with Jupiter's orbit. Their lines of apsides have parallel alignment with the apsides of Jupiter, even as the orbits of Mars and the Earth had parallel apsides in the catastrophic era when the Earth was in 2:1 resonance with the Martian orbit. The presentation of 3:1 and 2:1 resonance behavior is merely for background, the setting of the stage.

In our pursuit of the understanding of ancient catastrophism, Ron Hatch (an orbital analyst) and myself faced the issue of resolving (1) the anniversary aspect of ancient catastrophism with (2) a theoretical model within the framework of Newtonian mechanics. For non-resonant orbits, such modeling was found to be impossible. But within the framework and behavior of resonant orbits, it was possible. The resonant orbit break-through (with Earth and Mars at 2:1) was Hatch's.

Including this breakthrough, there were some 25 steps of analysis, data compilation, reasoning and "cause and effect" logic which were climbed in our effort to arrive at an understanding. These 25 steps need to be laid out (not necessarily in our order of climbing) so that other serious students may understand it, evaluate it, and save much time in their search.

We found, first, a 108-year cyclicism for the long series of October catastrophes. Next we found a parallel 108-year cyclicism for the alternating mid-March catastrophes. Thirdly, we found that each 108-year cycle (and catastrophe) was a component of a greater cycle, a cycle of 540 years (or every fifth catastrophe.) Mega-cycles of catastrophism were found to apply to both the October case and the mid-March case equally. It so happens that four successive mega-catastrophes of the October case are described in the Old Testament. They are (1) Noah's Flood, (2) The Tower of Babel Discharge, (3) The Long Day of Joshua and (4) the Mt. Carmel Barbecue. Their respective dates are 2484 B.C., 1944 B.C., 1404 B.C. and 864 B.C.

On each of these four dates, the following six planets had repeating, identical positions (if the Moon had a 30-day period as the ancients claimed.) Those six planets were Mars (in a flyby posture), Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, the Moon and even Venus. Understanding these 25 steps, and the battery of problems encountered, leaves one with a mega-perspective of ancient catastrophic flybys.

A CATASTROPHIC THEORY FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM. This subject needs technical discussion on each of two levels, the negative and the positive. On the negative side, the 250-year old antique theory, currently still in vogue, the nebular hypothesis, needs to be discredited for the unworkable idea which it is and always has been, an 18th century idea advocated by the two Emmanuels. There are about ten technical astronomical reasons, any two of which should be sufficient to undermine the blithe confidence with which the nebular theory has been affirmed.

On the positive side is the catastrophic approach, one involving the Sun capturing pre-existing planets with pre-existing spin rates. The acquisition of spin is a major issue, and as it so happens, the planets of our solar system display spin rates in pairs (just as it is said in Genesis that the animals were created in pairs, albeit in a different time frame.) How did the planets acquire spin (in pairs)? The answer leads directly to a larger issue: how did the Sun acquire its spin.

How did the planets acquire their present orbits? Were satellites acquired or were they stripped? Satellite acquisition needs to be framed with the dual concept of satellite stripping. Was the Sun once a dark star before its acquisition of its planets (and its acquisition of planet-driven tides)? We think so. Was the Sun "cable-jumped" or "turned on" with the acquisition of its family? Did it have to begin working harder (like most new parents)?

How does the issue of a "shrinking Sun" fit in and what is the supporting evidence? How does such evidence conflict with evolutionary theories such as the one just mentioned. Much of this material is being typeset at the present time for Aeon by its publisher, David Talbott. Samuel R. Windsor is the co-author with myself.

THE RISE AND DECLINE OF THE EARTHS GEO MAGNETIC FIELD. In what way is the earth's geomagnetic field like the Roman Empire? Knowledge of just exactly where and what is the generator of the Earth's geomagnetic field is crucial to scientific advancement. Traditionalists have held the generator location to be in the Earth's core region, hot and unseen. We hold that the generator was external and it was Mars, through the friction generated during its flybys.

This subject is incomplete unless one also addresses the crucial issue of whether or not the geomagnetic field is decaying or not. Data over the last 150 years indicates its decline is steady and is at the astronomically-shocking rate of 4½% per century. This means that the Earth's geomagnetic sheath (like the Roman Empire) is predestined to expire, much like the magnetization of an iron nail whose tiny field also decays in time, albeit a much shorter duration of time.

Of further interest are two addition issues. One is exactly where is the Earth's geomagnetic field housed. We (Windsor and myself) affirm it is in the cool-iron crust or shell of the Earth; traditionalists have assumed it is in the ultra-hot core region. The other issue is why the spin axis and the geomagnetic axis are offset. We propose a solution. This polar offset has puzzled geographers and physicists alike for over a century. In summary, we predict that the person who convinces the scientific community as to the precise origin of the Earth's geomagnetic field will be a Planetary Catastrophist. It cannot be otherwise.

THE CATASTROPHIC GEOGRAPHY OF MARS, PART-I: As previously mentioned, Mars has experienced a fragmentation by a rocky planet, probably smaller than the Moon. Our name for that planet is Astra." Evidence abounds. One side of Mars is splattered with 91% of the total count of Martian craters, while the other serene hemisphere has but 9%. The crater pattern is scattershot, but with a distinct edge or rim. Where the largest fragment hit (the core of Astra, the Hellas fragment), there is a crater 990 miles in diameter on Mars, over 20% of that planet's diameter. Some 170° opposite the Hellas Crater is the Tharsis Bulge, a continent-sized uplift the size of Australia, averaging between 20,000 and 25,000 feet above the surrounding mean ground level. It is logical to conclude that the massive Hellas fragment, hitting Mars at a velocity between 40,000 and 60,000 m.p.h., punched Tharsis up and out on the opposite side.

In addition, there are thousands of fragments which missed Mars. Most became asteroids but some continued to orbit around Mars in an ancient ring system. (Evolution teaches that somehow Jupiter is responsible for organizing the asteroids.) Recently discovered (and numerous) craterlets on tiny Deimos and Phobos are testimony to the ancient ring system of Mars. The fact that only two are left is testimony to the catastrophic orbit of Mars and the sweeping out done by the Earth's gravitational field (the broom) during repeated flybys. Yet other aspects of the catastrophic geography of Mars and its satellites need examination.

THE CATASTROPHIC GEOGRAPHY OF MARS, PART-II: As previously mentioned, Mars is a small planet, one-tenth the mass of the Earth. It cannot retain oxygen, nitrogen or water vapor. It never has had a climate in the Earth sense. Yet it displays numerous dry river beds in one of its hemispheres. Detailed analysis of those river beds indicate that the water ran torrentially, at velocities of 20, 30 and 40 m.p.h. on a planet whose ability to pull those running waters downward is but one-third that of our planet. Some of the craters exhibit dry river beds both entering and exiting. This is evidence that Mars suffered a solid planet fragmentation (with rocky projectiles) first, and then the explosion of icy fragments of a former ice-ball later.

In our theory, that ice-ball (Glacis) splattered one side of Mars with about 1 million cubic miles of ice. When the icy fragments hit, their motion in energy instantly converted to heat energy; melting, vaporizing, condensing and being reconstituted into a scattering of sudden, once-only rivers.

Moreover, our theory is that the fragmentation of that ice-ball (Gracis) was on the Roche Limit of the Earth (not Mars) while Mars was making a flyby. Both planets were sprayed by ice simultaneously. One immediate effect in the Earth's atmosphere was a massive, hot, intense, hemisphere-wide rain. A second effect, briefly delayed, was the particles of ice fragments that were captured, which particles like an icy super-cooled flour, sifted down generally, spiraling down like the wild hairdo of Gorgon, through the vortices of the Van Allen belts, landing generally in the magnetic polar regions. A third long-term affect was an addition of about 7% to the Earth's hydrosphere, its oceans. Yet a fourth affect was a general cooling, by about 25° to 30° F of the average temperature of the pre-Flood oceans. Thus we hold that Mars has suffered two fragmentations, the first rocky and the second an icy one. By comparison, Saturn has experienced but one, an icy one, while both Jupiter and Uranus have also experienced but one each, rocky ones.

THE CRUSTAL DEFORMATION OF THE EARTH. Mountain cycles happen to parallel flyby patterns. Evolutionary geologists know this, but do not perceive the significance. Fiat creation scientists are also aware of this but prefer to practice a form of tunnel-vision; its acceptance (and planetary catastrophism) would disturb their comfortable, simplistic, doctrinaire posture.

Figure 22 illustrates two flyby patterns which coincide with each of the two "recent" cycles of mountain uplifts. There are the Alpine-Himalayan Cycle and at least one sector of the Circum-Pacific Cycle. Our theory holds that the Alpine-Himalayan Cycle (12,500 miles long) was uplifted in one day, the day of Noah's Flood when Mars made a flyby between 14,500 and 15,000 miles close. The age of the Alpine-Himalayan Cycle is 2½% million minutes (not years). Its swath-like pattern of crustal deformation coincides perfectly with a flyby pattern providing that one understands that a spin axis shift occurred at the height of the flyby.

SUDDEN DEPOSITION OF SEQUENTIAL LAYERS OF STRATA. Figure 23 portrays our understanding of massive tides (as referred to in The Epic of Gilgamesh) which swept into, upon and over the Near East, and all of Southern Eurasia during Noah's Flood. The source of the flood waters was the Indian Ocean, an ocean which contains 70 to 75 million cubic miles of water. In our theory, some 4% to 6% of the water in the Indian Ocean swept across the face of Southern Eurasia.

When the velocity of running water doubles, its sediment-and-precipitate carrying capacity increases to the sixth power. That is, a doubling of the velocity produces an increase in sediment-carrying capacity by 64 times. It so happens that the ocean bedrock on our planet rarely contains strata, settled out sediments and precipitates. However, much strata is found across all of the continents, apparently including Antarctica. Mostly, strata has formed well above sea level. This is logical in a catastrophic view. We perceive that tides ranging up to 10,000 feet suddenly swept in from the Indian Ocean across Southern Eurasia, in just a few hours during Noah's Flood. Suddenly-developed and in great velocities, their waters sediment-and-precipitate carrying capacity was immense.

Conversely, within a matter of hours, even late that same day, those same tidal surges slowed, dropping their debris, their sediments and precipitates, dropping them almost as fast as they were acquired. The sediments were dropped mostly over the continents where they were also picked up. Those sediments included a vast litter of debris, silts, sands, rocks, floating fauna and flora, which became fossilized often within days. The formation of sedimentary strata, littered in a debris-strewn environment, must be perceived as having been deposited (or laid down) by huge amounts of water, slowing down in velocity, in a matter of minutes, hours and days but not in the context of millions of years. Tens of thousands of seconds per stratum certainly is logical but tens of millions of years (per stratum), definitely no.

ORBITAL PRECESSION BUT FOR MERELY 2700 YEARS. The Earth's orbital line of apsides (its long axis) slowly rotates, in a clockwise direction. That rotation is about 1° every 72 years, or one circle in 26,000 years. It is caused by the earth's tilt, an unequal mass of the Northern versus Southern Hemisphere, and the tugging of the Sun and the Moon unequally on them. This slow orbital rotation is called "orbital precession." It is not to be confused with spin axis precession. Has orbital precession been going on forever? Astronomers educated in the nebular hypothesis and evolution like to think so. Yet, many of them must have wondered why the constellations have shifted from the most ancient moorings only 1¼ zodiac zones, or about 37° (each zone being 30). Such a 37° orbital shift is enough to allow for 2700 years of precession, back interestingly enough to the time of the last catastrophe, the last Mars flyby.

However, the zodiac (with its myriad of constellations) is far older than 2700 years. The zodiac was a primary concept in ancient Sumer, Chaldea, India and the Levant. The Zodiac as an ancient star map is older than recorded history by far. If the Sumerians existed 5,000 years ago, why hasn't the zodiac shifted 50°. If the Sumerians existed 8,000 years ago (as some think), why hasn't the zodiac shifted 110° from its ancient mooring, the first Point of Aries? Why has the zodiacal zone shifted only about 35°? Many astronomers, physicists and engineers must have wondered about this discrepancy of actual orbital precession versus what evolutionary precession ought to be.

Our theory is that during the catastrophic era, the line of apsides (the long axis of the Earth's orbit), like the apsides of Mars, was locked onto the perpendicular of Jupiters apsides, just like Alinda's is today. Alinda is in 3:1 orbital resonance with Jupiter. We hold that Mars was in 6:1 resonance and the Earth was in 12:1 resonance in the catastrophic era. The behavior of the asteroid Alinda is of much import. It is an example that resonant orbits do not precess whereas non-resonant orbits do precess. The trio of asteroids in 2:1 resonance with Jupiter (China, Clematis and Griqua by name) also serve as examples of orbital non-precession.

We propose that the Earth's orbit converted from a resonant status to a non-resonant status in the year 701 B.C. That change was caused by a mechanism as described and as illustrated in Chapter VII. It involved the outside flyby of Mars, which was visually seen and reported by Isaiah and, less clearly, by Hesiod and his "Shield of Herakles." If this is not the solution, where is another solution to this obvious zodiacal dilemma? Credit for perceiving this issue goes to Samuel Windsor, my co-author of the two-part essay concerning the catastrophic organization of the solar system. When this issue is analyzed in greater detail, its significance will be seen as damaging to all societies of astrologers, to their assumptions and to their hypothetical and superstitious 'Age of Aquarius."

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS AND THE LAPUTAN ASTRONOMERS. In 1726, Jonathan Swift wrote of the world travels of one Lemuel Gulliver in a brilliant satire on English society of his time. One of his satire scenes was on the Island of Laputa, off the coast of China. There, astronomers knew all about the two satellites of Mars which Europeans (with their poor telescopes) were unable to see. Swift, through his Laputan astronomers, proceeded to describe the following:

1. The correct number of the satellites of Mars.
2. Correctly, the tiny sizes of the Martian satellites.
3. In Mars diameters, the correct distances of the satellites.
4. Correctly, the orbital periods of those two tiny trabants.

(He did not call them Deimos and Phobos.) So precise were Swift's Laputan astronomers that they offered the opinion that, were there a man on Mars, to him the inner satellite (Phobos) would rise in the west and set in the east. Such would be due to the speed of Phobos in its revolving, faster than the rotation of Mars itself (at 24 hours 37 minutes.)

In 1875, an American astronomer at the Naval Observatory (Asaph Hall) discovered two tiny satellites of Mars. What has astounded the society of modern astronomers is that Swift's description was very, very close to the scene Hall discovered 150 years later. Astronomers, educated in the uniformitarian idea (including the nebular hypothesis) have been deeply puzzled. Astounded is not too strong an adjective. Several have called Swift's description "the luckiest guess in the history of science." Many other astronomers have concurred.

We doubt it was such a lucky guess. Swift's description was couched in terms of the Newtonian system, then a system only 38 years old. Did Swift have a source who interpreted Mars from ancient records, or from ancient star charts, or from other historical relics (such as Byzantine flags). A team member in London presently is researching the papers of "Dean Swift" (as he calls him.) Presently we do not have the solution, but we have knowledge of two other Europeans of the same vintage on the continent who also discussed the moons of Mars, also a century or more before their modern discovery.

We suspect that Swift's satire was related to the opinions of someone he knew, and that person understood astronomy, mathematics and ancient history to a significant level. Swift was a satirist. One of his friends at the Scriblerus Club invented John Bull. Another was the Queen's physician. We surmise that he knew Flamsteed, Halley, Newton and Whiston. It is suspected that his account of the Laputan astronomers will be found to contain cryptic clues.

For Swift, this story became a laugh situation either way it might come out. If Mars would be discovered without satellites, no one would ever be the wiser. However, if it were indeed discovered with two tiny ones (larger ones would have been already discovered), it would be a mirthful coup, even a celestial joke upon the society of astronomers. For satirist Swift, a pundit and a lover of jokes, no doubt he had numerous laughs, and perhaps some of those from beyond the grave. The bewilderment of science has been total. Our position is that the last laugh has yet to occur, and when it comes, it will be the best of them all. Such will occur when the source of Swift's information is identified, and perhaps in concert, when Swift's cryptic clues woven into the story of the Laputan astronomers are also unravelled.

ARCHETYPES OF MARS IN ANCIENT GREEK LITERATURE. In Chapter II, we identified ten of these in Hebrew literature and four in ancient Greek literature (Apollo, Ares, Gorgon and Typhon.) We are led to understand that there are at least another dozen in ancient Greek literature. Beyond that are archetypes of Mars in other ancient literatures and lores on all continents. This is a topic which needs research. Thus, one and even two or three books on Mars catastrophism are inadequate for such a far-ranging subject. A sequel is planned, one considerable more technical than the work in hand.