ABC news.com recently reported that scientists have discovered unusual phenomena which, may point to the existance of another planet.

Physicists in the United States and an astronomer in Great Britain describe this hypothetical planet as having the mass of between one and ten Jupiters,as well as having an orbit that takes it three million miles from the Sun.

This hypothesis coincides with one presented by Zecharia Sitchin in his book, The Twelfth Planet, first printed in 1976. Sitchin, a Hebrew scholar, uses ancient Babylonian records, originally written in cuneiform, to present his hypothesis of an undiscovered planet in our solar system, located millions of miles father out than the planet, Pluto.

Sitchin,a familiar name to millions of listeners of the Art Bell radio show, as well as UFO researchers around the world, has written a series of books that outline not only the astronomical data of this mystery planet, but also discuss the planet's inhabitants, who have figured prominently in the history of our Earth.

Taken from a Mesopotamian deciphered text named The Creation Epic, Sitchin discusses a possible scenario for the creation of our present solar system.

The planet that Sitchin terms the 12th(Sun and Moon are included as planets), is named Marduk in Babylonian records, and Nibiru in the earlier Sumerian. The 12th planet was formed way out in space, millions of miles from the planet Neptune(Pluto was not in its orbit, yet), and veers off its original path when it is captured by Neptune's gravity.

Because Marduk was a newly born planet that emitted radiation, its approach to the other planets in the solar system stirred up electrical emissions from these planets. Passing by Neptune, the gravitational pull from that planet caused Marduk to bulge. But no part of it was torn off until it reached the vicinity of Uranus. Chunks of matter were then torn off, creating satellites that orbited around Marduk.

Moving past the very large planets of Saturn and Jupiter, Marduk's path was tugged inward into the center of the solar system towards the planet Tiamet, which then existed between Mars and Jupiter. The satellites of Marduk crashed into this unfortunate planet and an immense bolt of electricity shot into Tiamet, extinguishing its life force.

After completing its first solar orbit, Marduk came back again and hit Tiamet directly, splitting it in two. The upper half was hit by one of Marduk's satellites and this part became our Earth. The lower half was smashed into a million pieces and became the asteroids, the belt of planetoids and pieces of rock that lie between Mars and Jupiter.

Tiamet's largest satellite, Kingu, became our Moon, while a satellite of Saturn, Gaga, moves outside of Neptune and becomes Pluto.

Marduk's orbit, which brings the planet between Mars and Jupiter every 3600 years, disrupts weather patterns on Earth, causing heavy rains and flooding, and signals the transformation of the Earth and the advent of a new area.

As Marduk approaches, extraterrestrials from the planet are able to visit our Earth. Sitchin's books outline the effect that the inhabitants of the 12th planet have had on ours, anc claims that these individuals are directly involved in the evolution of the human race.

Psychic Vera believes that Sitchin is onto something, and points to the weird weather patterns as possible proof of the 12th planet's advance towards Earth. Vera doesn't think, however, that we will see the planet's closet orbit to the Earth in our lifetime, if Sitchin's timetable is correct.

Using the 3600-year cycle, Sitchin estimates the possible return of the planet around 11,000 BC, in 7400 BC, and 3800 BC. After that, it would have returned in 200 BC(around the time of Christ and other great prophets and teachers) and will not return again until approximately 3400 AD.

The article on the ABC News website mentions that this 10th planet(unlike Sitchin, they don't include the Sun and Moon)is still too far out to be seen by current telescopes. Scientists are hopeful, however, that the next generation of space based telescopes, like the Hubble, will be able to see it.

Although too far out to be seen at present, this planet may not be too far out to cause severe weather problems on Earth. Psychic Vera believes that we may be in for more tough times ahead weather-wise. Furthermore, she has been reading the remarks made by alien abductees regarding their "captor's"concerns about the human race destroying the planet with global warming, thinning the ozone layer, and overpopulating the planet.

"We have to work very hard to safeguard the Earth." Vera said. "We cannot miss the next return of the 12th planet which will, if Sitchin is right, initiate another great transformation of consciousness on our planet. Unlike those that came before us, we will be forwarned of the 12th planet's return, and we will consciously be able to greet its inhabitants with awareness and grace.