XENA
- The Latest on the 10th 'Planet!?' aka 2003 UB313
Way out there…orbital period 556.7 years! Currently in ARIES!
What IS a planet?!
Xena's discovery has resparked a controversy that
is not new. Nearly 2,500 astronomers from 75 nations, members of the
International Astronomical Union (IAU) has gathered in Prague, and will
vote on a new proposal Thursday, August 24th. The seven-member
Planet Definition Committee headed by Ekers, consisting of historians[?!]
and astronomers, has been trying to determine a new definition of the
concept 'planet.' Here it is in a nutshell: Every round object
orbiting the
sun is a planet, unless it orbits another planet. But there is a big caveat:
If
the center of gravity, called the barycenter, is outside the larger object,
then the smaller object is a planet. That wording elevates Pluto's moon
Charon to planethood, an idea some astronomers have criticized. Word
has it the astronomers are split 50/50, but a cnn.com poll shows the CNN
public is pro-Pluto three to one.
Late breaking news 8-21:
Over the past few days, two rival definitions of
the term "planet" have been put forward by astronomers gathered in
Prague
at a meeting of the International Astronomical Union.
The first definition would
potentially give our solar system
hundreds
of planets. The second would require a planet to dominate
its
neighbourhood and would throw out all the distant iceballs beyond
Neptune, including little Pluto, and leave only eight planets!
(see Pluto
may yet lose planet status)
Xena discoverer Mike
Brown says "I just read the new [2nd] proposal
and I liked it enough to ask them to sign my name to it, too. It's really the
only reasonable scientific definition around." Previously he said “That
committee's definition is an effort to combine science and culture, and it
doesn't do either."
Mike Brown, planet hunter,
discoverer of Xena, new daughter Lilah. After
discovering Xena, the first thing Brown did, he recalls, was phone his wife,
who replied: "That's nice, honey. Can you pick up some milk on your way
home?" Sorry, we don't know his birthdate yet. What sign do you think?
Xena, please look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_UB313
Info about the 'planets'
The effect on toys
and texts!
Spicy
blog comments to expand your thinking!
For a bit of much needed humor: Those
Wild and Crazy Astronomers
From the Houston Chronicle, one astrologer’s
opinions
Astrologer Eric Francis, see Implications
for Astrology
What Xena's discover Mike
Brown thinks!
How astronomers
differ, NASA, Harvard-Smithsonian, more
What the International
Astronomical Union (IAU) says - Vesta/Pallas!
And then, the only 'planet'
discovered by an American, Pluto,
faces
expulsion from planetary league!
No matter what happens, I
believe astrologers will continue to use Pluto
as we have been. It has shown its power without doubt! Also, many, who
use the asteroids, smaller than Pluto, find they also work quite well!
Clearly, whatever one can 'vote' on, is always up for change! Just Google
'Xena controversy' or 'planet definition,' etc, read to your heart's content!
For two, well, three, reasons
I hope we retain the name Xena!
1) Naturally( ! ), Lucy Lawless, who starred as Xena, Warrior
Princess,
born during the New Moon in Aries (March 29, 1968; Auckland NZ; time
unknown), has Xena within only 3 degrees of her Sun!
2) Xena's discovery was when Xena was in the warrior sign Aries!
And,
She has started a big fight among astronomers!
3) It would be the first outer planet, Mars and beyond, to
have a feminine
name!
The IAU doesn’t intend
to officially name Xena this session and are giving
no date for it to be named. All other planets have been named for
mythological figures. Why don't we get out of the box?! Aries is the
sign of NEW! Proposed
names!
We are in suspense.
To be continued in the Libra Newsletter!
Among astrologers, there
is tremendous interest in, and quite a range of
discussion, about what Sign Xena will be associated with! It is often
thought the next discovered planet would be assigned to either Gemini or
Virgo since they are co-ruled by Mercury, or, Taurus or Libra since they
are co-ruled by Venus.
But, if you want
to know your Xena position in your birth chart,
here are various Xena
(now Eris) Ephemerides (listings of Xena's
positions 1900-2103) compliments of Karma Astrology! Its position
Sep 12, 2006 is 21 Aries 04' 30" Retrograde.
If you have questions or
need help placing Xena in your chart, Sign, House,
Aspects, Transits, call Cerena 805-898-7888 or email,
for your
appointment!
If you want to keep up on
these topics, you can create 'Google
Alerts'
Xena has a strong position
in my birth chart, and shares those last 3
letters of my name! If you have read most of this and followed some of
the links, likely Xena is strong in your birth chart too!
Times for new beginnings!
Cerena
*****************************************************
*****************************************************
If you like what you see here, you are most welcome to subscribe!
Getting this Newsletter at your email doorstep couldn't be finer!
And please tell your friends,
email this page to them. See below.
I would really appreciate that a lot!
*****************************************************
*****************************************************
| 
