5th millennium

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

The fifth millennium is a period of time which will begin on 1 January 4001 and will end on 31 December 5000.

Astronomical events

• The Earth will experience 2360 solar eclipses.
• 4285 August 6: Venus occults Regulus
• 4296 November 22: Venus occults Antares
• 4557 November 10: Venus occults Regulus
• 4747 August 14: Venus occults Regulus
• 4772 October 13: The Maya Calendar Ends
• In the 44th century, around the year 4380, Comet Hale-Bopp is expected to return to the inner solar system. It last dominated the skies of Earth in 1996-1997.
• In the 49th century, The Great Comet of 1811 is expected to return to the inner solar system. According to calculations made at the time, the comet should return around the year 4876.

Astrological Events

Sometime during the first eight centuries of the 5th millennium (calculations vary among different astrologers), the 2,158 year long Age of Aquarius will end and the Age of Capricorn will begin.

Fictional events

• A majority of the events of David Weber's Honor Harrington novels and short stories take place during the early years of the fifth millennium.

• In 4846 (or, more accurately, the 12th day of Kalends, CY 9772), the Andromeda Ascendant will be commissioned by the Systems Commonwealth High Guard (for the television series Andromeda).

• In the film A. I., a sequence said to take place in 4001 features the extinction of mankind after the ocean freezes over, but other intelligent life, the descendants of mankind's early intelligent robots, return to earth and excavate to discover their origins.

• 4444: Events of Neo Contra.
• 4665: Events of The Caves of Steel.
• 4667: Events of The Naked Sun.
• 4670: Events of The Robots of Dawn.
• 4870: Events of Robots and Empire.

• A scene in SB-129 from the animated television series, SpongeBob SquarePants takes place on March 6, 4017.
• 49th century: Susan from the television programme Doctor Who is born.

• The novel series Fifth Millenium by Stirling, Wehrstein and Meier is set in this time, chronicling the lives and travels of several connected characters in a 'low magic' fantasy world that emerged after a nuclear war destroyed almost all former civilization on earth.

Reference

• Conjunctions of Regulus and the planets (in German)