Have you ever wondered how the new planets get their names? Have you ever wanted to put in your two cents? Now you have a chance for just that. Mike Brown, the quintessentially mercurial astronomer (and a Gemini Sun) who effectively “demoted” Pluto (though we all know Pluto remains as potent as ever), also discovered the largest known, yet unnamed, dwarf planet. He colloquially referred to this planet as “Snow White” because he had already pinpointed the existence and location of seven other dwarf planets. While the object initially appeared to be bright white, however, it is now known to be one of the reddest objects in our solar system... Snow White no longer applies.
While I have a preference for the object’s name, I’m not going to share that until after the results of the naming are revealed. This poll does not guarantee the object’s name, however, since Brown is one of the discoverers, he and his team have the right to propose the name to the International Astronomical Union, who hold final say. It is more than likely the name will be accepted.
Before you vote, please click the links and read all the content on the website for the whole picture. There you can find some great background information and mythic origins of the proposed names. In your voting, consider as well that the closest contact of this body to the Sun (perihelion) is 3 Libra 28 (heliocentric) and the object’s north node is 6 Pisces 46 (heliocentric). Today the object aligns with 4 Pisces 24 (geocentric) while slowly nearing closest solar contact in its 553.05 year revolution. It’s daily rotation period is 22.4 hours.
Exercise your say in the cosmos! Here’s an opportunity to have your say. Vote! Voting closes 10 May, proposed naming result revealed soon thereafter.
Metaphysically, it is oft reported that when a door closes a window opens. Currently solar activity follows the organic 11-year pattern and approaches solar minimum. During this time, the Sun’s magnetic field relaxes and the solar wind wanes, contributing to the sun becoming as quiescent as it can be.
When solar activity recedes, cosmic rays more easily penetrate our atmosphere. As cosmic rays hit out upper atmosphere, we are showered with a “rain” of highly charged secondary particles resulting from the interaction. On the surface of the Earth, neutron monitors record increased frequency of neutron impacts.
These particles easily penetrate the hulls of commercial airliners in flight. Because airplanes are closer to the source of this interaction, the intensity of the radiation increases exponentially with height of flight. During the maximum of cosmic showers, an average domestic flight potentially exposes passengers to the equivalent of a dental X-ray scan for the entire body. If you’re a frequent flyer, better to increase whatever it is you do to offset radiation effects to the body during this cosmic intensity surge.
Below is an array of diagrams posted on SpaceWeather.com that illustrate the data for the influx of cosmic rays. Before observing the diagrams, remember that in the next days Mars in Gemini moves into an exact square with Neptune in Pisces. No need for crazy-making, frantic scanning of the data, the units of measure, or other mnemonic information to ascertain the meaning of the graphs. Step back, squint, perhaps bobble your head side to side, and to take in the overall vibe of the pattern.
While the effect of the cosmic showers stands well documented by traditional energetic and potentially medical measures, there must be significant impact to the body’s energy system - the chakras and aura. Indeed there is, and if you’ve been feeling any of the following symptoms increasing over the past months, there is a reason.
* Increased frustration will ridiculous collective mind sets (according to your beliefs).
* Irritation with non responsive individuals. They are tedious and retardant to the momentum of life.
* Agitation with indecisive, noncommital people. They’re just in the dang way.
* Annoyance with any and all personally applied restrictions on the creative process.
* The need to burst forth and display your full karma purpose without bounds.
All of the above can be summarized as an unconscious urgency stirring within, as if some universal ultimatum pushes the soul toward shifts essential for evolution.
What to do? What to do? Vibe it out. Permit Neptune in Pisces and possibly 225088, too, to steer Mars. Feel and sense the next steps. Allow unconscious impulse (well-intended, of course) to steer the spirit on a track of action. Years ago, in 1972, during a solar minimum and while enjoying cosmic rain on a Navy frigate off the coast of Vietnam, and following the screening of an inspirational movie about revolutions in South America, I retreated to the bowels of the ship to create a motivational doctrine. Flushed with the energy of the cosmic rays and under the pressures of a war zone, I came up with an action-based kluge: Create, Instigate, Execute.
It’s much like the prevailing energy now. To pacify the Mars-Neptune square, Gemini to Pisces, let inspiration guide the percolation of ideas. When ideas form a plan, get going while the energy is high. Then, persist in the execution of those inspirations.
While it may sound oxymoronic to make hay while in the throes of solar minimum, consider the minimum shuts a door on solar activity that opens a window for cosmic rays to breeze in upon us. Coupled with Mars to Neptune, perhaps another axiom fits the moment: Daylight’s burning.