Really? NASA says otherwise in this NASA paper.
NASA states there IS a link between planetary alignments and solar flares!
Cycles of Venus, Earth, and Jupiter alignment were found to have an 11- or 22-year period (refs. 4 and 5). This suggests the possibility of a resonance between the sunspot cycle and the planet alignment cycle. Increased radio and x-ray emissions were observed when the planets were aligned during the 2-month period leading to the large sunspot groups or major solar flares (ref. 6). This suggests a possible thermal effect in the development of tides on the solar surface. Correlation between the position of sunspots at their first appearance and the heliocentric longitude of Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter has been noted (ref. 7).
If it is true, then the unpredictable solar activity could be related to the predictable planet positions, and the capacity of solar activity and space weather forecasts would be increased.
edit on 2-12-2012 by curiouswa because: 2nd paragraph addition


