Since the naming of Máni is breaking news (as if we’ve not had any of that lately), I decided to move up this week’s SkyScraping post. The week of 23 June, we should be back to a regularly scheduled post.
Funny how it goes out there at the currently perceived edge of the solar system. While Chad Trujillo and Michael Brown conducted a search for Pluto-sized Kuiper belt objects at Palomar Observatory, on 18 June 2002, they encountered 2002 MS4. Once the orbit’s orbital elements could be confirmed, the object became minor solar system body 307261. And this past week, this object became known as Máni. Currently, this likely dwarf planet stands at 19 Capricorn 23 on your friendly ecliptical dial.
Likely dwarf planet, is it? Máni's mean diameter figures to be 796 km (495 mi), which places it between the diameters of the dwarf planet Ceres and proto planet Vesta. Máni is the 10th largest known TNO, to date. If Charon gets thrown into the mix, then it drops to number eleven on the largest KBO chart.
Máni‘s name derives from the Old Norse and means "Moon.” According to Germanic mythology, Máni, is the brother of the personified sun, Sól (I am not sure what personified sun suggests). Scholars speculate that he refers to the Northern European notion of the Man in the Moon.
Máni’s eccentricity of 0.1453 stands in the moderate range; its inclination is 17.7° - not particularly spectacular. With a rotation period of 14.251 hours, Máni’s revolution about the Sun runs 269.48 years, and creates the assumption that this object is a classical cubewano. However, Máni possesses a diverse and wide-ranging topography. On its surface, Máni sports a mountain that is 25 km high contrasted with a crater estimated to be 45 km deep, current assessments are entirely speculative.
What does Máni mean interpretively? Máni's north node slices the ecliptic at 6 Scorpio 13. His perihelion is 11 Gemini 04. An amalgamation of these factors notes a perceived urgency that pushes communication out there, ready or not. Such discourse renderings do well to ensure the messaging that resonates at the core interval level. The orbital elements combined establish a superficiality-free zone. Evocative is where it happens. Blow a person’s mind so they feel through and through. Exploit emotional attachments to create logical perspectives intending to simplify muddied feelings.
Given the communication conjuring innate within Máni, expect that matters involving AI are strongly impacted. An innate skill for conjuring lore, storytelling especially emotionally evocative or scary tales dominates ones skill set with Máni prominent. As well, this body seems to enjoy pranking, and is simultaneously susceptible to catfishing (online impersonation). Máni shows up in a time of rampant online fraud and fakes, to demand each person trust their absolute instincts about conditions and challenges they face. It may be more than you think. It might also be a wisp of what is feared.
More to come from the Kuiper Belt soon... when, who knows? We do know that those searching the skies are relentless with their efforts in a good way. Incidentally, on 15 May, the SkyScraping dealt with a Planet 9 update. Mike Brown, co-discoverer of Máni and astronomer largely responsible for Pluto’s planetary status demotion, does not believe that the crew that discovered Telisto found Planet 9. At least it’s not the object he’s hound dogging out there in space. This reminds me of the amazing stories surrounding modern planet discovery. Modern being anything from Uranus onward. In each discovery instance since Uranus, there has been political intrigue, something less than ideal human behavior, funding issues, squabbles over naming the object and insane competitiveness.
If you want to be the first kid on the block to have the latest Kuiper Belt news, hop onboard with the KBGASP program. Those in the program have already received an ephemeris for the new dwarf planet, updated orbital data sheet, and a set of keywords including those for interpreting Máni.
A reminder that the KBGASP program if engaged before 4 July, also includes the option of adding a one-hour consultation for a discounted rate of $399.99. And this permits you to order a Galactic Report for nearly half off (additional $7). Please e-mail for payment options.
Standard consultations and more are available by using the links following:
You can watch my short films ELEVATOR PITCH and OTRO LADO on The Flick Fest
Check out ZAP!, METEORIC and JACK OF ALL LANTERNS on Vimeo.