Centaurs in astrology
Encyclopedia
Centaurs
are trans-Saturnian objects that have only been discovered in the last quarter-century and are one of the newest additions to astrology. Because they are so much farther than the asteroids, they take significantly longer to orbit the Sun
than the inner planets (e.g. Mercury
and Venus
).
They have irregular and unstable orbits, and are more numerous than the "true" planets with more than 50 known to date. According to astronomers, they are a unique group and are rarer than the asteroids and the trans-Neptunian objects that number in the hundreds to hundreds of thousands.
All are smaller than the four largest asteroids: Ceres (now a dwarf planet
), Pallas
, Vesta
and Hygiea
. Some appear to have atmospheres; this is usually because they show cometary aspects, such as occasionally forming a tail when they approach the Sun.
Mythologically the centaurs were crude, unintelligent and unrefined. In the same respect, many of the astrological community approaches them with less dignity than the celestial bodies now considered planets, in particular the first five planets known to humans aside from the Earth: Mercury
, Venus
, Mars
, Jupiter
and Saturn
. However, many astrologers believe the centaurs are of major astrological significance, recognizing one or more as rulers of Zodiac signs.
Chiron
Chiron
was the first centaur to be discovered (in 1977); the next wouldn't be known for 15 years. Mythologically, Chiron was the superlative centaur; he was more intelligent than most of the others, and also much kinder (he had different biological lineage than the other centaurs). Whereas most of the other centaurs were savage warriors, Chiron was a teacher and a doctor. He ended up sacrificing his immortality so humanity could have fire and Prometheus could be freed from his eternal punishment of having his liver eaten by eagles every day.
Chiron is popularly called "The Wounded Healer," and from this it's understandable to see how some astrologers would consider it the ruler of Virgo (the sign of Health). In a chart interpreted by traditional astrologers, Chiron is said to represent where you have a constant burden and pain that becomes wisdom, experience and a capacity to help others. In transit Chiron gives these things and aids in group and interpersonal associations. This could be because Chiron crosses the orbit of Saturn (experience) and at times resides within the regions of Jupiter (education) and Uranus' (change) orbits.
Pholus
Pholus
was the second centaur to be found, and because of this discovery the category "Centaur" was created. Pholus was an intelligent centaur who one day was admiring Heracles' arrows, but accidentally dropped one, cutting his leg and killing himself. It is said that Pholus represents "small cause, big effect."
Centaur (planetoid)
Centaurs are an unstable orbital class of minor planets that behave with characteristics of both asteroids and comets. They are named after the mythological race of beings, centaurs, which were a mixture of horse and human...
are trans-Saturnian objects that have only been discovered in the last quarter-century and are one of the newest additions to astrology. Because they are so much farther than the asteroids, they take significantly longer to orbit the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
than the inner planets (e.g. Mercury
Mercury (planet)
Mercury is the innermost and smallest planet in the Solar System, orbiting the Sun once every 87.969 Earth days. The orbit of Mercury has the highest eccentricity of all the Solar System planets, and it has the smallest axial tilt. It completes three rotations about its axis for every two orbits...
and Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
).
They have irregular and unstable orbits, and are more numerous than the "true" planets with more than 50 known to date. According to astronomers, they are a unique group and are rarer than the asteroids and the trans-Neptunian objects that number in the hundreds to hundreds of thousands.
All are smaller than the four largest asteroids: Ceres (now a dwarf planet
Dwarf planet
A dwarf planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union , is a celestial body orbiting the Sun that is massive enough to be spherical as a result of its own gravity but has not cleared its neighboring region of planetesimals and is not a satellite...
), Pallas
2 Pallas
Pallas, formally designated 2 Pallas, is the second asteroid to have been discovered , and one of the largest. It is estimated to constitute 7% of the mass of the asteroid belt, and its diameter of 530–565 km is comparable to, or slightly larger than, that of 4 Vesta. It is however 20%...
, Vesta
4 Vesta
Vesta, formally designated 4 Vesta, is one of the largest asteroids, with a mean diameter of about . It was discovered by Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers on March 29, 1807, and is named after the Roman virgin goddess of home and hearth, Vesta....
and Hygiea
10 Hygiea
10 Hygiea is an asteroid located in the asteroid belt. With somewhat oblong diameters of 350–500 km, and a mass estimated to be 2.9% of the total mass of the belt, it is the fourth largest asteroid by volume and mass...
. Some appear to have atmospheres; this is usually because they show cometary aspects, such as occasionally forming a tail when they approach the Sun.
Mythologically the centaurs were crude, unintelligent and unrefined. In the same respect, many of the astrological community approaches them with less dignity than the celestial bodies now considered planets, in particular the first five planets known to humans aside from the Earth: Mercury
Mercury (planet)
Mercury is the innermost and smallest planet in the Solar System, orbiting the Sun once every 87.969 Earth days. The orbit of Mercury has the highest eccentricity of all the Solar System planets, and it has the smallest axial tilt. It completes three rotations about its axis for every two orbits...
, Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
, Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
, Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
and Saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
. However, many astrologers believe the centaurs are of major astrological significance, recognizing one or more as rulers of Zodiac signs.
List of centaurs
Below is a list of centaurs and interpretations of their astrological significance.ChironChironIn Greek mythology, Chiron was held to be the superlative centaur among his brethren.-History:Like the satyrs, centaurs were notorious for being wild and lusty, overly indulgent drinkers and carousers, given to violence when intoxicated, and generally uncultured delinquents...
Chiron2060 Chiron
2060 Chiron is a minor planet in the outer Solar System. Discovered in 1977 by Charles T. Kowal , it was the first-known member of a new class of objects now known as centaurs, with an orbit between Saturn and Uranus.Although it was initially classified as an asteroid, it was later found to...
was the first centaur to be discovered (in 1977); the next wouldn't be known for 15 years. Mythologically, Chiron was the superlative centaur; he was more intelligent than most of the others, and also much kinder (he had different biological lineage than the other centaurs). Whereas most of the other centaurs were savage warriors, Chiron was a teacher and a doctor. He ended up sacrificing his immortality so humanity could have fire and Prometheus could be freed from his eternal punishment of having his liver eaten by eagles every day.
Chiron is popularly called "The Wounded Healer," and from this it's understandable to see how some astrologers would consider it the ruler of Virgo (the sign of Health). In a chart interpreted by traditional astrologers, Chiron is said to represent where you have a constant burden and pain that becomes wisdom, experience and a capacity to help others. In transit Chiron gives these things and aids in group and interpersonal associations. This could be because Chiron crosses the orbit of Saturn (experience) and at times resides within the regions of Jupiter (education) and Uranus' (change) orbits.
PholusPholus (mythology)In Greek mythology, Pholus was a wise centaur and friend of Heracles who lived in a cave on or near Mount Pelion.The differing accounts vary in details, but each story contains the following elements: Herakles visited his cave sometime before or after the completion of his fourth Labor, the capture...
Pholus5145 Pholus
5145 Pholus is a centaur in an eccentric orbit, with a perihelion less than Saturn's and aphelion greater than Neptune's. Pholus has not come within one astronomical unit of a planet since 764 BC, and will not until 5290. It is believed that Pholus originated as a Kuiper belt object.It was...
was the second centaur to be found, and because of this discovery the category "Centaur" was created. Pholus was an intelligent centaur who one day was admiring Heracles' arrows, but accidentally dropped one, cutting his leg and killing himself. It is said that Pholus represents "small cause, big effect."