24 Dec. '06

 Taking the Solar System as a clock-face: just now Earth is about 12 o'clock
 while Mercury, Mars Jupiter are all lined up at 7 o'clock (Venus is further
 around, at 5 o'clock). Approximate.

 Check that lay-out at John Walker's Solar System - Instant Orrery site -
 http://www.fourmilab.ch/cgi-bin/uncgi/Solar/action?sys=-Sf  

 Three planets in-line is enough to provoke a sun-spot or two, and their
 position means the spots won't be visible for a week or so, in fact any
 spot(s) won't actually point directly at Earth 'till maybe about 4th to
 7th of January '07.  Depends on the `latitude' - those dates only if the
 spots are more or less on the Sun's equator.

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 Quakes - Full Moon should be on Jan 3; and with most planetary masses
 (except Saturn) on other side of the Sun, there might be a slightly
 stronger than usual tectonic effect.
  
 Check www.perceptions.couk.com/uef/checkalign.html

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