An iceberg. Photo Credit: Iceberg 1999 by M A Felton http://www.flickr.com/photos/17269317@N02/1819837194/in/photostream/
The moon is (mostly) to blame for the sinking of the Titanic passenger liner. That’s according to new research undertaken by astronomers from Texas State University-San Marcos, who have claimed that a freak lunar event three months prior to the 14 April, 1912 sinking led directly to the disaster which claimed the lives of 1,500 people.
The researcher’s findings, originally reported in the April 2012 edition of Sky & Telescope magazine, suggest an incredibly rare combination of astronomical factors, including the closest approach of the moon to Earth in 1,400 years, caused an unusually high tide in January 1912. This once-in-a-lifetime swell would have swept a vast field of icebergs from their normal resting place off the coast of Canada and caused them to drift further south and, crucially, directly into the path of the unfortunate Titanic.
Prof Donald Olson of Texas State University, who led the study, said: “They went full speed into a region with icebergs, that’s really what sank the ship, but the lunar connection may explain how an unusually large number of icebergs got into the path of the Titanic.” “We don’t claim to know exactly where the Titanic iceberg was in January 1912 – nobody can know that – but this is a plausible scenario intended to be scientifically reasonable,” added Olson.
“For 100 years it has shouldered the blame for the sinking of the Titanic but now the much-maligned iceberg could be partially forgiven after scientists identified a new culprit – the moon,”
