Correlations between Sunspots and Planetary Positions
Author(s): Norman Z. Alcock
Source: Peace Research, Vol. 5, No. 10 (October 1973), pp. 59-67
Published by: Canadian Mennonite University
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OCTOBER, 1973 VOLUME 5 NUMBER 10
Correlations between Sunspots and
Planetary Positions
The periodicity, nature, and cause of sunspots has attracted
scientific attention over the years^ Most early theories a
that they were of planetary origin. In particular, possible tidal
effects were investigated not only in the past but up to th
day. Voight, for example, showed how the combined influences of
Neptune, Uranus, Saturn and Jupiter could give a close resemblance
to the sunspot curve from 1749 to 1928, while Bollinger constructed
a chart showing a consistent relation between the 11.19 year sun
spot cycle and a similar cycle found by the 0°, 45°, 90° config
rations of Jupiter-Venus-Earth for the period 1749-1955. But
all theorists ^ssumed that gravitational forces were responsib
In 1951 Nelson showed that planetary configurations and sunspots
were highly correlated with radio interference on earth, w
Williams established a correlation between electric cable failures,
sunspots, and planetary positions. Despite these findings, most
current literature on solar activity assumes that the planets do
not effect it, and conditions ingernal to the sun are prim
responsible for the solar cycle.
Following the leads of these early^investigators and d
on precise cycle data compiled by Dewey, I have tested the follow
ing hypotheses :
(a) Three planets are required to account for any given sunspot
period.
(b) Number of sunspots increases when the three planets are
aligned (in conjunction or opposition) and/or in quadrature.
(c) Any three planets are equally admissable to account for a
given period. Figure 1 illustrates the five general positions which
follow from these hypotheses.
As the three planets revolve around the sun they will suc
cessively assume one or another of the five configurations. Any
given sunspot period is the time taken for the three planets to
travel from configuration to configuration. This condition is ex
pressed by the following equalities:
ps = P1 <nl + 0) = p2(n2 + 6 + f3) = p 3 (n^ + 6 + -|5)
where p^ = sunspot period
PEACE RESEARCH 59
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OCTOBER, 1973 VOLUME 5 NUMBER 10
P] 2 3 = periods of the three planets
9 9
nl»2»3>'t>5 = any integer 0, 1, 2, 3
0 is a constant
Figure 2 illustrates three planets moving from position (a) to posi
tion (b) of Figure 1. Note that although the Figure is rotated
through 0 the relative positions are as illustrated in Figure 1 (b).
The corresponding equalities are:
Pg = Pj(3 + 0) = P2(l + 0 + ~) = P3(0 + 0 + |)
Three planets were sought to account for each of the 67 sun
spot periods listed in the index of Cycles - Selected Writings.8
In most cases, additional phenomena having the same alleged period
and phase were also given. For example, a 5.6 year sunspot period
has also been found in sweet potato production, and international
war. In most instances the date of the cycle peak for each pheno
menon is also indicated, and average peak values have been computed
for the group. Thus, the 5.6 cycle for both sweet potato production
and international war peaked at 1966.7 ± 0.1. (In general, sunspot
peaks lag those of associated phenomena, which has caused Garcia
Mata and Shaffner9 to speculate that it is the rate of change of
sunspot formation which correlates with other cyclical activities).
Therefore, in addition to their use for checking sunspot periods,
Dewey's figures allow one to test phase. Cycle maxima should occur
when the three planets are aligned or in quadrature. Dates for the
planetary calculations were obtained from Planetary Co-ordinates
for the Years 1800-1940 and for the Years 1940-1960.10
Planetary configurations were found for 48 of the 67 sunspot
periods, and a further 12 sunspot periods may be accounted for through
duplications (e.g. 11.15 may be the same cycle as 11.13). See Table
1. The date of the planetary configuration was calculated for 40 of
the sunspot periods (all could not be given due to unavailability of
essential data for Mercury and Pluto). 14 planetary configuration
peaks were found to be within 1/5 of a wavelength of the average
peak of the other phenomena, eight configurations were within 1/16
of a wavelength, while the remaining 18 configurations were within
1/50 of a wavelength. See Table 1. Chance expectancy for each
configuration of Table 1, when numbers of planets, and accuracy of
period and phase are considered, ranges between 0.1 and .001.
The changing sequence of planetary configurations is as follows:
planetary alignment (conjunctions and/or oppositions, see Figure 1
PEACE RESEARCH 60
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OCTOBER, 1973 VOLUME 5 NUMBER 10
(a) and (c)) is followed one cycle later by planets in quadrature
(Figure 1 (b), (d) , or (e)). The only exceptions to this general
rule are ten periods (8.727, 16.650, 17.080, 17.907, 18.076, 18.220,
20.750, 22.620, 82.74, and 85.62 years) which are twice ten other
periods (4.363*, 8.325, 8.540, 8.953, 9.038*, 9.110, 10.375, 11.310,
41.37*, and 42.81 years). While the shorter cycles have the usual
planetary configurations—quadrature following alignment—the
planets associated with the longer cycles are always aligned when
ever the cycle peaks. This normal alteration between aligned pla
nets and planets in quadrature may be related to the reversed polar
ity found in sunspot numbers.
A consequence of the angular errors of planetary configurations
(Table 1, column 7) is that the planets will gradually drift apart
from their optimum positions with each passing period. Systemati
cally, all cycles must disappear and in time reappear. Whether this
process is gradual as the displacement angle increases to 45 , the
cycle amplitude steadily decreasing, or whether it is discontinuous
is an open question. That cycles are prominent with well-defined
peaks even though the displacement angle averages 10 and the maxi
mum displacement angle is 29 (see Table 1, column 8) suggests a
gradual process. In any case, average optimum configuration errors
of 1 seem to insure a series of at least 20 cycles (possibly 30 or
40) before they disappear.
A second consequence of the angular displacement error in
planetary configurations is the effect it must have on the wave
shape and period of composite cycles as each component cycle ap
pears and disappears at its own rate. For example, the so-called
11-year sunspot cycle appears to be a composite of seven closely
related cycles (10.375, 11.064, 11.132, 11.193, 11.199, 11.310,
and 11.388 years) with an average value of 11.093 years**. These
cycles correlate primarily with positions of Jupiter, Saturn, and
Uranus+ and secondly with positions of Venus, Earth, and Mars, thus
confirming some of the conclusions of the gravitational studies by
Voight and Bollinger. It is of interest that planetary configura
tion peaks vary from 1971 to 1977 as do the peaks of phenomena
associated with the 11-year sunspot cycle. As each of these seven
* Not shown in Table 1.
** Dewev calculates 11.094 years over the time span 300 B.C.
A.D. 1956.
+ Time for Saturn and Uranus to separate 90 is 11.34 years,
and for Jupiter and Uranus to separate by 270 is 10.35 years.
PEACE RESEARCH 61
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OCTOBER, 1923 VOLUME 5 NUMBER 10
cycles appears and disappears to its own rhythm, so the waveform
and period of the composite sunspot cycle must change. Dewey has
found that the eleven year period alternates between short and long
"legs," three to four such legs occurring over a 2300 year span.
This is consistent with the alternative appearance and disappear
ance of the seven cycles noted above. The optimum planetary error
of the 11.193 year cycle is 0.40° resulting in a "leg" of 1260 year
(11.193 x 45°/0.40°). Similarly the legs of the 11.064, 11.132,
11.199 and 11.310 year cycles are 221, 302, 2120 and 252 years, re
sulting in an overall average length of leg for these five cycles
of 771 years.
Absolute (+ or -) phase difference between planetary peaks
and the peaks of associated phenomena (Table 1, columns 5 and 4)
is 1/16 of a cycle period. The phase difference between planetary
peaks and sunspot cycles is more of the order of 1/4 of a cycle
period, lending support to the theory that it is the rate of change
of sunspot numbers which correlates with other phenomena. Thus
we can tentatively conclude that planetary configurations seem to
correlate with the rate of change of sunspot numbers.
Only planetary motions have been analyzed in this study. It
is of interest, however, that the 4.00 year cycle can be accounted
for by a configuration of Venus and Earth in opposition and the
Moon between Earth and Sun (Mo = V - E in our nomenclature), and
that the 7.60 year cycle can similarly be described (Mo = E + V).
To account for shorter sunspots, then, the various moons in the
solar system likely should be included. Supporting this point of
view is the finding of Bigg in 1964 that the position of the the
innermost moon of Jupiter strongly correlates with radio noise from
that same planet.
A systematic search for further planetary configurations as
sociated with well established cycles should prove rewarding
whether sunspots of the same period have been identified or not.
Examples of this procedure are the 9.6 year "biological" rhythm
and 16.67 year cycle given as illustrations in Table 1. A search
for further double sunspot periods (e.g. 9.11 and 18.22) should
also prove useful. E.g., there should be a 2.001 year cycle
since the 4.002 year cycle is an alignment configuration. And
at the other end of the spectrum there could be a 600 year double
cycle corresponding to the 300 year single sunspot cycle.
Several questions are raised by this study. Why are only
60 of the 67 suaspot periods (or 62 if the 4-year and 7.6-year
PEACE RESEARCH 62
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OCTOBER, 1973 VOLUME 5 NUMBER 10
periods are included) accounted for by planetary configurations? A
partial answer may lie in the authenticity of each cycle recorded.
It is significant that all of the unaccounted for sunspot cycles
either stand alone or are associated with only one other phenomenon
while a majority of the other cycles have multiple associations
(Table 1, column 1).
The major unanswered question, however, must surely be the
mechanism of these correlations. Tidal effects appear to be ruled
out due to the inverse-cube law of distance, and the obvious impor
tance of distant planets including tiny Pluto. Electric or magnetic
disturbances appear closer to the mark in spite of the inverse
square law of distance, for we do not know precisely the magnitude
of the planetary fields. Moreover, we do know that changes in the
magnetic and electic fields on earth do effect radio transmission,
climate, and even organic life. Lending substance to an electro
magnetic interpretation is the apparent magnetic nature of sunspots
themselves. Indeed, an intriguing idea is that each fluctuating
spot may be associated with a given planetary configuration. As
new quantitative data emerges, however, a new type of force field
may become necessary, for after all that was the history of gravi
tational, electric, magnetic and nuclear forces.
Norman Z. Alcock,
Canadian Peace Research Institute,
119 Thomas Street, Oakville, Ontario.
PEACE RESEARCH 63
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OCTOBER, 1973 VOLUME 5 NUMBER 10
Figure 1
Planetary Positions
Figure 2
Example of Planetary Movement
During a Single Sunspot Period
7
6
PEACE RESEARCH 64
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OCTOBER, 1973 VOLUME 5 NUMBER 10
Table 1
Number of Sunspot Planet- Date of Date of Planetary Optimum
Other Phen- Period ary Peak of Planet- Configura- Config
omena with (years) Period Other ary Con- tion* uration
same Period (years) Phenomena figuration Error
and Phase or Sunspot [<J
1 0.329 - 1960.61 - - -
3 4.00 - 1954.1 - - -
0 4.80 4.800 1966.7 1966.8 V = E + Ma 1° 12°
29 5.4-5.6 5.490 1952.0 1952.0 V = Ma + S 5° 15°
4 5.60 5.593 1966.7 1967.8 Ma - J + M 1°
II ll II ll
1 5.625 - -
0 5.887 5.870 1967.4 1965.3 M - E + Ma 1° -
II II II II
0 5.89 1965.5 -
II II II ll
17 5.90 1965.0 -
13
II II II ll
5.91 1965.0 -
57 6.00 6.003 1965.2 1966.5 J - E + V 1.5° 9°
11 6.10 6.146 1968.1 1967.9 M = J + Ma 1° -
9 6.1-6.2 6.167 - -
VP += Ma 2° -
2 7.60 -
1967.4 - - - -
12 8.00 8.000 1960.0 1960.5 V = E + Ma 1.5° 20°
3 8.10 8.010 1969.8 1970.1 M = Ma + E 1° _
1 8.36 8.325 1962.5 -
V - P + S 1° -
4 8.40 8.408 1970.7 1970.9 M - E + V 3° ' -
3 8.50 8.540 1958.7 1958.2 E = Ma + S 1° 29°
1 8.70 8.727 1971.4 1971.4 M - E + J 3.5° -
.. II
1
II
8.76 1972.7
ll
1 8.80 8.800 1972.7 1971.2 E - S + N 2° 4°
5 8.94 8.953 1963.8 1962.2 V - N + S 1° 4°
6 9.11 9.110 1963.8 1962.2 V - S + N 1.5° 7°
25 9.20 9.200 1964.9 1964.9 M = E + V 1.5° -
7 9.30 9.299 1965.7 _
V = N + M2° _
44 9.60** 9.597 1968.0 1968.1 V = E + M 1° -
o
10 9.708 9.896 1968.0 1966.3 V + J - S 1° ro 00
19 9.93 9.993 1965.7 1965.7 M - E + V 1° -
7 10.00
II
1966.4
II II II
-
1 10.45 10.375 _
E - J + U 1° _
0 10.59 - - - - _
_
46) 11.094 11.064 1971 to 1976.2 Ma • - s + u 2.5° 20°
) 11.11 11.132 1977 1976.5 E = V + s 2° 10°
) 11.13
II II II II II It
) 11.15
II II II II II II
) 11.17 11.193 1971.6 1971.7 V = E + J 1° 6°
2 11.25 11.199 1971.7 1971.7 V = E + Ma 2° 12°
2 11.37 11.310 1965.0 1965.2 V = S + U 1° 6°
2 11.40 11.388 1965.0 1965.2 E = S + V 1° 10°
PEACE RESEARCH b3
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OCTOBER, 1973 VOLUME 5 NUMBER 10
Table 1 (cont'd)
1 11.73 11.737 1967.1 1968.7 E - Ma + J 1° 9°
0 12.90 - - - - - -
1 13.00 13.195 1971.2 1970.9 V = S + E 1.5° 2°
0 13.50 - . - - _ -
6 16.67** 16.650 1960.2 -
V = P - S 1° -
14 17.00 17.080 1963.0 1963.0 E = Ma - S 1° 22°
16 17.33 17.325 1965.5 1965.5 Ma = U + J 1.5° 9°
13 17.67 17.750 1960.0 1962.2 V + S - N 2° 4°
12
II
17.75
II II II II
1962.8
0 17.92 17.907 1957.1 1953.3 S - N + V 1° 4°
25 18.00 18.076 1962.0 1962.2 Ma = S - N 1° 4°
16 18.20 18.220 1962.0 1962.2 V = S - N 3° 4°
II
34
II II II II
18.30 1962.0
1 20.80 20.750 - -
E = J - U 1° -
20 22.19 21.798 1962.0 -
Ma - P + J 1°
0 22.22 22.355 _ _
Ma = J + N 1° 6°
8 22.67 22.620 1950.8 1953.9 V = S - U 1° 6°
10 37.00 37.400 1950.0 -
J = P + E 1° -
II II II n
0 37.40 1950.0 -
2 37.50 37.441 1950.0 -
J = P + Ma 2° -
5 42.00 42.003 1949.7 1950.2 E = U + N 2° 10°
1 42.80 42.810 1949.2 1950.2 Ma - N + U 1° 24°
1 79.00 79.409 1949 1936 J = S + U 1° 15°
II II II II
1943
II
0 80.00
2 83.00 82.74 1956.5 1951.6 Ma = J = U 4° 4°
1 84 + 85.62 1944 1950.2 Ma = N - U 1° 2°
0 89.00 86.25 1944 1951.6 J + N - U 1° 14°
0 200 - - - - - -
1 300 300.4 1950 1951.6 N - J + U 1° 14°
♦Planetary configurations after one elapsed period, assuming the three planets
were in conjunction initially. X = Y stands for conjunction of X and Y; X - Y stands
for opposition of X and Y; X + Y stands for 90° or 270° angular displacement of X
Y. Designations: Mercury (M), Venus (V), Earth (E), Mars (Ma), Jupiter (J), Saturn
(S), Uranus (U), Neptune (N), Pluto (P).
** No sunspots reported.
PEACE RESEARCH 66
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OCTOBER, 1973 VOLUME 5 NUMBER 10
References
1. See for example: Wolf, R. Comptes Rendus, Vol. 45, p. 231, 1859;
Carrington, R.C. Observations of the Spots on the Sun from Nov. 9, 1853
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4. Nelson, H.J. "Shortwave Radio Propagation Correlation with Planetary
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Sciences, Vol. 95. Oct. 5, 1961.
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7. Dewey, E.R. Cycles—Selected Writings, Foundation for the Study of Cycles,
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8. Dewey, E.R. loc. cit.
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a Preliminary Reoort." Quarterly Journ. of Econ.- Vol. XLIX November 1934
10. H.M. Nautical Almanac Office, 1933, 1958.
PEACE RESEARCH 67
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