The first object discovered in the Kuiper Belt, 1992 QB1, minor solar system body 15760, has been named! Albion.
“Discovered” on August 30, 1992, the conscious recognition of Albion’s presence changed not quite everything, but a lot of things - and did some massive mind boggling along the way. Astronomers Kuiper and Edgeworth were proved correct about their assumptions that Pluto is not alone at the edge of our solar system. There is way more than we imagined in our solar system. More important, the breadth of our solar system reaches far beyond what was previously imagined.
In fact, by orbital period, and according to the latest NASA orbital data, the time it takes for objects to go around the Sun has exploded by 343 times, from Pluto’s 247.74 years dalliance to 2014 FE72's estimated orbit of 84,970 years. By the farthest point from the Sun, Pluto retreats to 49.853 Astronomical Units (AU) and 2014 FE72 to 3,892 AU, some 78 times more distant. It should be noted that current data has Pluto’s orbit extending 10 AU more distant than previously believed!
Now, the above data regarding the unrefined orbit of 2014 FE72, should be taken with a grain of salt. The Minor Planet Center has 2014 FE72's orbital period at 101,225 years and retreating to 4,307 AU, significantly different from NASA’s orbital projections.
The point remains: it’s totally mind-blowing how much our consciousness of the expanse of our solar system stretched since the discovery of 1992 QB1.
There were efforts to name QB1 Obiwan. Didn’t happen. However, there is a group of Kuiper belt objects with orbits similar to 1992 QB1 known as “cubewanos.” These are objects with periods exceeding that of Pluto, or more to the astronomical point, whose semi-major axis was notably bigger than Pluto’s. Because these objects and those with more far-reaching orbits defy Plutonian orbital limits, their naming is supposed to be resurrection oriented or of creation mythologies.
Initially I was disappointed with the name Albion. It is the oldest known name for the major British Isle and likely associated with the white cliffs of Dover. Still, I’m not quite sure about how this is resurrecting or creation-based. According to NASA's orbital generator: In the creation mythology of William Blake (1757-1827), Albion is the island-dwelling primordial man who divided himself into the four Zoas (Urthona, Urizen, Luvah and Tharmas), each representing important aspects of human character.
More fascinating about Albion is its node’s and perihelion’s (closest point to Sun in orbit) locations on the ecliptic; these points known as part of an object’s orbital elements. The node is 29 Pisces 26; perihelion weighs in at 00 Aries 02. Note: both positions are heliocentric and do not directly translate to a geocentric horoscope.
The orbital elements straddle the vernal point (0 Aries point) and symbolic endings and beginnings; and brackets the begin and end of the zodiac. If there was ever a symbol for looking beyond, getting started, activating inquisitiveness, reaching for the unlimited, and pondering the unknown, this is it.
Here are some keywords to get you started with Albion:
Positive - maverick, inquisitive, receptive, initiating, instigating, inventive, quick to conclude from bits of evidence, punctual, inclusive, expansive
Negative - flaunting, first oriented, maverick, selective listening, willful blindness, jumps to conclusions and into action, fear of missing out, tardy, excluding, cliquey
Mundane - archetypes, initiatives, pinnacles, psychometry, albinos, empire-building, imperialism, armadas, cloture, opening or closing events
Ceremonial - ceremonies on summits, initiations, rites of passage, I-Ching passages of “Before Completion,” “After Completion,” releasing ceremonies
These are preliminary keywords based upon the influences of the node, perihelion and the fact that this pesky devil uncorked the outer boundaries of our solar system.
Enjoy pondering and more soon.