It’s official. Astronomers are going Tolkien.
This morning while doing my daily scan of the data on the Minor Planet Center’s website, a new Kuiper Belt Object appeared: Manwë.
According to JPL’s planetary orbit generator website:
385446 Manwë: In J.~R.~R. Tolkien's mythology, Manwë is foremost among the deities who rule the world. Manwë takes special responsibility for the air and winds. He resides in the Undying Lands across the western ocean from Middle Earth. For intelligence of events in Middle Earth, Manwë relies on the kingdom of eagles led by Thorondor.
At midnight (GMT) on the 18th Manwë occupies 20 Pisces 28. Come May 1st, Manwë pushes through 20 Pisces 43.
With a 288-year-orbit Manwë should fall into the category of Kuiper Belt Objects that represent resurrection, re-emergence and transformation. It’s not yet clear to me - having just encountered this object this morning - how Manwë’s mythology fulfills this protocol.
Based upon keywords for Manwë’s node and perihelion degree (both heliocentric references) in Gemini, and observation of where and how Geminian events prevail in the current news, here are some initial keywords:
Positive: communicative, quick-witted, expressive, verbose, loquacious, infectious.
Negative: verbally manipulative, obsession with logic and making a point instead of addressing the emotionality of situations.
Mundane: payment by the word when writing (verbosity to the extreme), hype, spin, PR, propaganda, software updates, wind, breezes, air.
Ceremonial: vows, oaths, breath work, proclaiming to the four winds (affirmations in nature).
The proclamation of Manwë on the MPC lists this morning reminded me that I had not yet posted keywords based upon the node and perihelia for Varda, now confirmed by the JPL orbit site to be Tolkien derived. Following is a blip from the JPL site and my keywords based upon Varda’s perihelion in Aries and node in Libra:
174567 Varda: In J.~R.~R. Tolkien's mythology, Varda is the queen of the stars, the star-kindler. She is the deity who, prior to the birth of the first humans, created the stars and constellations. She also set the vessels of the Sun and Moon upon their appointed courses above the girdle of the Earth.
Positive: strong boundaries in relationship, able to stand ground and negotiate.
Negative: intractable, demanding, self serving in interactions.
Mundane: negotiations, consensus reality, contracts, pre-nuptial agreements, buying star names.
Ceremonial: weddings, commitment ceremonies, contract signing festivities, Hatha yoga, wishing on a star, creating a personal constellation in the sky.
Despite the fact that Varda, the first Tolkien-based naming in the Kuiper Belt, was discovered in Arizona, I’m not yet a fan of these names. I am not up to speed with the use of contemporary literature for naming Centaurs or Kuiper Belt Objects. From an astronomical standpoint neither Varda nor Manwë demonstrate any spectacular characteristics. It’s not like a binary, planet with rings, and of massive size has been gobbled up by Middle Earthlings.
But, waiting to be used up are fabulous names in the Hindu, Vedic, Muslim, Hebrew, Aboriginal, Hawaiian, Arctic, Native American and Maori (and other not named) traditions. I get that Borasisi from Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle seems to a bit of an astronomer’s joke to the world based upon a logical look at religion. But I’m not pleased with the Tolkien naming trend.
Perhaps I’ll change my mind. In this moment I think, that’s not so likely. Now this is not an appeal for rhetorical debate or a request for anyone to change my point of view, or an invitation to point out the tight fit of the blinders I wear. My contention remains that there’s a heap of powerful, unused mythology out there, despite the increasing numbers of bodies in space seeking non-numeric nomenclature. Seems to me humankind would be better served by potent mythic renderings.
So, I won’t be happy until all the blue people in Avatar have their own KBO.
Seriously, here’s my other concern... Manwë weighs in with two Gemini orbital elements. Let us not be distracted by trivialities, trends, rages, media crazes. There’s a Grand Cross on Easter (lest we bypass the woe-forecasting bloggers). There are conflicts in the world requiring evolved political leadership and healing thoughts from the planet’s entire citizenship. Heartbleed has corrupted many applications/websites on the Internet (my sites have been tested and are free of the malware) and so many have no idea that they may have been compromised (write your Internet security company for details and what to do). Change passwords, update software patches and stay vigilant!
Meanwhile, it’s time for me to get back to other tasks at hand and put termination on my Tolkien
title tirade. There will be more to come in the near future.