posted September 14, 2006 01:22 AM            

By ALICIA CHANG, AP Science Writer 2 hours, 27 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES - A distant, icy rock whose discovery shook up the solar system and led to Pluto's planetary demise has been given a name: Eris.
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The christening of Eris, named after the Greek goddess of chaos and strife, was announced by the International Astronomical Union on Wednesday. Weeks earlier, the professional astronomers' group stripped Pluto of its planethood under new controversial guidelines.

Since its discovery last year, Eris, which had been known as 2003 UB313, ignited a debate about what constitutes a planet.

Astronomers were split over how to classify the object because there was no universal definition. Some argued it should be welcomed as the 10th planet since it was larger than Pluto, but others felt Pluto was not a full-fledged planet.

After much bickering, astronomers last month voted to shrink the solar system to eight planets, downgrading Pluto to a "dwarf planet," a category that also includes Eris and the asteroid Ceres.

Eris' discoverer, Michael Brown of the California Institute of Technology, said the name was an obvious choice, calling it "too perfect to resist."

In mythology, Eris caused a quarrel among goddesses that sparked the Trojan War. In real life, Eris forced scientists to define a planet that eventually led to Pluto getting the boot. Soon after Pluto's dismissal from the planet club, hundreds of scientists circulated a petition protesting the decision.

Eris' moon also received a formal name: Dysnomia, the daughter of Eris known as the spirit of lawlessness.

Eris, which measures about 70 miles wider than Pluto, is the farthest known object in the solar system at 9 billion miles away from sun. It is also the third brightest object located in the Kuiper belt, a disc of icy debris beyond the orbit of Neptune.

Eris had been without a formal name while astronomers grappled over its status. Brown nicknamed it "Xena" after the fictional warrior princess pending an official designation. He admits the new name will take some getting used to.

"It's a little sad to see Xena go away," he said.

posted September 14, 2006 11:01 PM            

I looked at Sabian Symbols and Degree meanings for Eris. I looked them with the Kepler astrology program.

Some of fits the stuff that's going on - the war in Iraq, the terrorism of Al Quaida,George W. Bush in power...religious fanaticism

ERIS DEGREE MEANINGS

19 to 20 degree Aries

Sabian Symbol
A Young Girl Feeding Birds In Winter

Charubel
Symbol: A man on the ground with his throat cut.

This appears a bloody degree. Those who may have this degree ascending are advised to do all in their power to fortify the soul, and pray to God for help and guidance.

La Volasfera
Symbol: A man equipped for, a rough journey, belted and armed.

This degree signifies one of adventurous nature, food of discovery and of travel. A pioneer In what ever field of labor he may undertake to work in; one. who will open up new roads of knowledge and research; active, aggressive, bold and fearless; one who will travel into distant countries and gain applause for his discoveries. It is a degree of INQUISITIVENESS.

Matthews

Symbol: “INTENSITY”

This area is often occupied in charts of machinists, blacksmiths and mystics. The native is very resourceful, but sometimes self-centered or unscrupulous. If squared by planets at about l6-l7degree Cancer, Capricorn it usually marks a religious fanatic.

Carelli
Symbol: Ulysses in Polyphemus’ cave

Few moral scruples, if any at all. An original mind, inexhaustible in resources, never at a loss.

An extremely active and daring temper with a pioneer’s or an adventurer’s craving inquisitiveness. A life of travel, exploration, of scientific discoveries, perhaps of more or less reckless adventures. There will be some renown and possibly a violent death.

The native ought to remember Dante’s warning (Inf. 26, 119-20):
You were not born to vegetate like beasts, but to follow the path of truth and virtue.

Kozminsky
Symbol: A blacksmith hammering a piece of red-hot iron on an anvil.

Denotes a determined worker, vigorous in the fight against opposition—a transmuter of himself and those who contend against him. Gifted with so strong a spirit, this native can never be mean. Baseness does not find a place in his nature. He loathes idleness, for energy, pain, and experience have taught him the power of industry. It is a symbol of Resolution.

Muir
Passionate in the undeveloped but angle fish, thoughtful and sincere in evolved types.

This degree has been associated with mining activities and generally a dark and dreary life with a fearful miserable early death. However, I think we must try look beyond to what influence lurks here which individuals have not found a way to use constructively. Perhaps a diamond in the rough is to be uncovered here. I think we would have to grant in the light of experience noted heretofore that whatever positive influence there is still to be uncovered. Aries is a pioneering sign and this is a degree to be pioneered. This is the exaltation point of the Sun and as such it may represent a blinding light falling on the new born soul seeking cover or darkness. It must also be recognized that good aspects and harmonious influences tend to bring out the best of the worst influences. Only one authority suggests that the influence is thoughtful and unselfish in the evolved types. As the exaltation point of the Sun there must be much promise from new beginnings at this point.

Weber
Libra and Taurus - the two Venusian signs - with active, curious Aries may make a rogue and romantic - attracted to entertainment, arts fashion and ego displays. Has exaggerated features, showcases talents and loves attention. Physically passionate, intense and often fanatical, or a reckless adventurer- perhaps violent death. Should learn compassion and respect, self-control and a trade to carry into its later years. Vigorous and expressionistic. Hospitable but native and possibly low intelligence.

Henson
Electricians, machinists; blacksmiths; a fortunate degree; sexual emotionalism and romance (physical passionateness); mental fertility; intensity or fanaticism. Often found in charts of reformers or propagandists who have a burning zeal to convert others to their way of thought (especially if squared by a planet at about 16-17 Cancer-Capricorn); resourceful, but sometimes self-centered or unscrupulous; hyoid bone.

Cochrane
Learns instinctively rather than academically or vicariously. Intense, magnetic, charismatic, or sexual. (SCO-8-SCO, SCO-8-SCO)

posted September 15, 2006 08:33 AM              

I`m a Latin-teacher and I`ve just been reading the myth of Paris and Helena and how Eris / Disharmonia created all that mess (which led to the Trojan war).

posted September 15, 2006 01:24 PM            

The thing that I notice is that it could be about stirring stuff up as well as causing controversy. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Some times, changes need to be made. Take for instance, the lack of civil rights. Civil rights leaders stirred stuff. People who wanted things the way they were saw them as a great threat and believed that they troublemakers and should be dealt with. Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving her seat up to a white man on a bus. That sparked civil rights movement. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. went to jail many times for breaking unfair Jim Crow laws that limited the rights of Blacks.

Some people stir crap up to just get attention and publicity. That's what I think about football player,Terrell Owens. I know a guy that has Sun-Mercury-Eris in Aries in 8th oppose Pluto in 2nd cazimi,and he likes to stir crap up in irc chat channels. heheeheheh. He is also very much into the occult,metaphysical stuff. He is also a strong believer in equal rights too. He was misdiagnosed bipolar and believes that he has Aspergers Syndrome.

There is definitely been intense stuff activity in regards to gay marriage debate,the war in Iraq,terrorism,Al Quaeda,and President Bush's lousy leadership.

I think keywords for Eris can be stirring crap up,equal rights issues

I suspected equal rights before Eris was even named.

I also like Phil Sedgwick's keywords of course.

With Eris said to be the full sister of Aries by some as well as accompanying Ares on the battlefield as well as causing wars, I wonder if it can relate to military.

I have Eris in Aries in 8th sextile Midheaven/trine Imum Coeli with 1'01 orb. I wonder if that has to do with my being in the military for 7 yrs. It was definitely my home too. I lived on naval ships. I have Moon in 6th sextile Sedna too,and so my work and home involving the water. I wonder if my Mercury in Scorpio in 3rd biquintile Eris in Aries in 8th with 4 minutes of arc can be communications that involves stirring stuff and equal rights issues of psychological,psychiatric nature. I am interested in advocacy for learning disabilities. I wanted to be an activist for misdiagnosed learning disabled people. My communications have definitely stirred crap in yahoo groups. I got AD/HD adults ****** off at me because I talk about psychiatric misdiagnoses as well as racism in psychiatry and unnecessary medicating in yahoo groups and chatrooms. I didn't care. It's the truth. Many people are misdiagnosed. There is a history of many Blacks being misdiagnosed as having Schizophrenia when they really had Depression. I also found that they had narrow views about Dyslexia too. They believe in the visual processing problems,but most Dyslexics have phonological,auditory processing problems. International Dyslexia Association says that. I was one of those diagnosed auditory,phonological Dyslexics back in early childhood.

I wonder if Cindy Sheehan is like an Eris type challenges Bush,a Pluto type. Just a thought.

I don't see Eris in a negative way. Like I said before, Eris can stir stuff up for good reasons like to point out things that are wrong as well as equal rights issues.

Sometimes you have to stir crap up to get people to understand certain things.

I also believe that the mythology of the name can be insightful when it comes to determining astrological meanings,but I don't believe that they are the only way. I definitely believe that astronomical properties should be taken into account. I agree with what Philip Sedwick said that Eris is what lies beyond transformational work with it orbiting well beyond Pluto and it's neighboring plutinos.

I wonder if Cindy Sheehan is like an Eris type challenges Bush,a Pluto type. Just a thought.

I don't see Eris in a negative way. Like I said before, Eris can stir stuff up for good reasons like to point out things that are wrong as well as equal rights issues.

posted September 16, 2006 12:02 AM              

Thanks for clearing up so much about the brief history of all this Eris stuff. I'm trying to keep in mind the exact interpretation of this myth. You say

quote:

---

"... In mythology, Eris caused a quarrel among goddesses that sparked the Trojan War..."

"... Eris' moon also received a formal name: Dysnomia, the daughter of Eris known as the spirit of lawlessness..."

---

But I'm not learned on myths, although I'm a lot more interested in learning about them since after graduating high school. It's a slow process for some because of all those names to memorize. I little more intense than your average novel.

So I went to see what the Trojan War was about as it relates to Eris, and I found a whole slew of springer interpretations. The basic running theme regarding Eris in mythology seems to be that

Eris = Goddess of Discord

Interesting how the myth parallels VERY closely to Disney's "Cinderella" fable.

"Zeus chose the hero Peleus, son of Aeacus, as the most worthy of mortals. All the gods and goddesses attended her wedding except Eris, goddess of discord. Furious of this slight, Eris threw a golden apple, inscribed "For the fairest", in the midst of the guests. The wedding was marred, when three powerful goddesses wished to claim the prize as the fairest: Hera, Athena and Aphrodite."

(Source: www.timelessmyths.com/classical/trojanwar.html

So similar to what happens in Disney's Cinderella, the "wicked stepmother" keeps looking in the mirror going "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?”

Plus counter-reference to Disneys' (poison) apple.

I believe a lot in the theory that continual discovery of Bodies share a synchronicity with what's happening down here.

As for something presently occurring in real time in popular life, Whitney Houston separating from Bobby Brown.

posted September 16, 2006 12:10 PM            

The Sleeping Beauty myth has a fairy that wasn't invited to Sleeping Beauty's christening or something like that.

posted September 16, 2006 06:44 PM              

Ho Hum...

Oh, and my cat is named Eris. I am a Discordian (wikipedia it!) and am incredibly interested to see how she is ascribed in Astrology.

I would hope someone had a copy of the first Principia Discordia around when they have a go at ascribing Her qualities.

In the weeks around her Naming I fell out with some friends I had prior to splitting with my ex, been out drinking (i dont usually do that haha!) lost my phone, but thankfully got it back, but have started meeting loads of new people and coming out of my shell, being a bit of a flirt. Oh and told lots of people I had no head, read books on Zen. (it was amusing to confuse people.. I advise searching Amazon for a book called "On Having No Head- Zen and the rediscovery of the obvious" to even get the slightest idea on wtf i am gabbing about)Also lots of confusion in the last 2 days of where exactly i was supposed to be working.. i got sent to the other resturaunt in the town centre and no one told me till the last minute.. 2 DAYS IN A FREAKING ROW!

My friend suggested we let Eris rule Capricorn.. but i am not sure if she is joking. I would see her as the antithesis of Cappy saturnian- ness.. but it would be funny.

Yea having a planet named after my cat was cool.

Doubly cool for a Discordian.

Also the Trickster archetype would be something I consider Erisian, I am one exited Pixie!

posted September 17, 2006 04:53 AM              

In a way, I'm glad I got all that Disney fable stuff confused. Blah!

But yeah, thanks for getting that straight, cz I was like "the apple? the apple wasn't Cinderella ..." but I've noticed mythological connections to lots of stories, but we're involving popular culture too.

Anytime there's a discussion on a "dark" entity in astrology, we start to do the research and reach many dead ends. So popular culture continues to lose track of "whatever happened to those dark entities". No one is yet equipped to take it head on yet.

From what I see going on with Eris so far, I think it's a relieving, as well as revealing, discovery.

(We love to pretend that there's nothing new under the sun.)