Using the Hubble Space Telescope astronomers have discovered a fourth moon orbiting Pluto. Temporarily designated P4, it is a tiny satellite being around 13-34km in diameter. By comparison, Pluto’s largest moon Charon is 1,043 km across. The new moon is located between the orbits of Nix and Hydra, which Hubble discovered in 2005. Charon was discovered in 1978 at the U.S. Naval Observatory.

P4 was first seen in a photo taken with the Hubble Telescope on June 28, and confirmed in subsequent Hubble pictures taken on July 3 and July 18. It has an orbit of 31 days – our own moon has an orbit of 29 days.

NASA’s New Horizons mission is scheduled to fly through the Pluto system in 2015.

The discovery chart has the Sun at 7°Cancer. The Sabian Symbol for this degree speaks of imagination and the play of invisible and mysterious forces – so appropriate for a body under Pluto’s influence.

reference – http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/20jul_p4/

During May, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter and Mars will dance with each other, clearly visible (for some) in the morning skies. This Friday May 13 they will form a tight triangle with Mars blinking dimly to the lower left as the image shows. Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter are in Aries while Mars is in Taurus. Later this month, Venus and Mercury move into Taurus then at month’s end the Moon joins in the party. This is a rare global event and, while observatories will be open, most are probably already booked out.
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The Sun and Moon are the two luminaries in our natal chart. While the Sun radiates its own light and energy the Moon reflects the light and energy of the Sun. The golden Sun is yang and active, creates our daylight and gives life to the solar system, whereas the Moon and her changing silvery face in the night sky is yin and receptive and controls the fluids of everything on Earth. And because the Moon reflects the light of the Sun, it moves through phases that change according to its relative position to the Sun.

The cycle starts with the New Moon, when the Moon sits between the Earth and the Sun. This is the zero point, and the beginning of this 28-day cycle. From a barely perceptible sliver, the Moon grows (waxes) and builds to the Full Moon (opposing or 180° from the Sun), then wanes (decreases) until it finally disappears into another invisible New Moon. Read more »

We are about to witness a Royal wedding, and somewhat of a fairytale, between a Prince and a commoner. What’s that? You say you didn’t get an invitation. Well don’t despair – the ceremony will be telecast across the globe.

In many ways the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton fulfils a promise made by William’s parents 30 years ago – also a marriage between a Prince and a commoner. But unlike Charles and Di, Wills and Kate are close in age, have known each other for a long time and have planets and points in common. They have a good foundation that bodes well for their compatibility and the longevity of the marriage.

The wedding is scheduled for 11am Friday 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey. Here is the chart: Read more »

Well change is afoot, as if you didn’t notice. There is so much action on a global scale that it’s hard to know where to focus first. And it promises to get even more intense as the Nodes change sign. This is something they do every 18 months. Thursday 3 March at 12pm UT the Nodes moved from Capricorn/Cancer to Sagittarius/Gemini. The intensity around security and stability takes a back seat as communicating the truth becomes paramount. This is a “Wikileaks” bonanza energy – the truth will light up every newspaper, blog, screen and dial.

Sagittarius may have foot-in-mouth and tends to exaggerate but it is extremely honest and loyal. It’s counterpart Gemini has a tendency to scatter energy often having too many irons in the fire but with Sagittarian vision together they have the potential to realise big goals. Through the numerous connections and activities that fill up each day amazing opportunities will reveal themselves. The challenge is to pare away the excess and the unnecessary to get to the heart of the matter and don’t hesistate. The opportunities are short lived. And while detail threatens to cloud the bigger picture remember – it’s all in the detail.