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Centaurs
Loosely known also as the Oort Cloud, a collection of gas and dust known to
spawn comets and named for astronomer Jan Oort, the Kuiper Belt may contain thousands
of objects. When the objects gain enough mass and become gravitationally perturbed
by larger influences such as Neptune and Jupiter, they may be pulled inside the
orbital realm of the outer planets. Technically, Pluto and Neptune’s moon Triton are
Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs) or Trans-Neptunians (TNOs, not to be confused with the
theoretical planets used in cosmobiology). Chiron, now known to be a comet, is a
Centaur having its roots in the Kuiper Belt.
To date, the following Centaurs exist: Chiron, Pholus, Nessus, Asbolus,
Chariklo, Hylonome, 31824, 32532, 1994TA, 1995SN 55 , 1996AR 20 , 1996RX 33 ,
1998QM 107 , 1998SG 35 , 1998TF 35 , 1999HD 12 , 1999JV 127 , 1999XX 143 , 2000CO 104 ,
2000EC 98 , 2000FZ 53 , 2000GM 137 , 2000QC 243 , 2000SN 331 , 2001BL 41 , 2001KF 77 ,
2001SQ 73 , 2001XA 255 , 2002CA 249 , 2002CB 249 , 2002DH 5 , 2002FY 36 , 2002GB 10 , and
2002GZ 32 . Ultimately, each of these unnumbered objects will receive a minor planet
number followed by a name, but only after astronomers are relatively sure of the
orbital parameters.
The KBO names refer to the year of discovery, followed by a letter to designate
a two-week interval of the year, then another letter indicating order of discovery and,
if necessary, a number to add final order clarification. For instance, 1995DW 2
appeared before astronomical observers in the fourth interval (D = letter 4) of the year
1995, the 23rd object in that interval.
Astrologer Melanie Reinhart speculated that Centaur 1993HA 2 deserved the
name Nessus only to find out that a short time before it had been so named by the discovering
astronomer(s). More astrological research will set the stage for appropriate
name considerations. Recently 1995DW 2 was upgraded to minor planet number 10370
and was finally named Hylonome, largely at the suggestion of astrologer Zane Stein and
others in communication with Dr. Brian Mardsen of the Minor Planet Center.
Centaur loosely translates to “those who round up Bulls.” These half-human,
half-horse creatures bore a well-deserved reputation for wildness, lechery, lewdness,
wanton ways, and an uncontrollable fondness for wine. Mavericks and sexual profligates
in behavior, two notable exceptions to the debased tendencies existed.
The more evolved Centaurs were Chiron, of whom astrologers have become
appreciative, and Pholus (pholis means “scale like,” as in snake). Pholus maintained a
reputation for being more skilled in augury than any of the other Centaurs. Versed in
divination and noted for his wisdom, Pholus also kept the sacred wine left in his possession
by Dionysus. One day Hercules came to visit and, after a feast of cooked meat
(though Pholus ate his raw), he persuaded Pholus to uncork the good wine in honor of
his visit. The aroma of the wine filled the air and attracted all the Centaurs. They
came armed with trees and objects of destruction, demanding wine. Hercules drove
them off with his arrows, killing many, though a good number fled. During this incident,
according to some accounts, one arrow in this battle passed through the arm of
Elatus and struck Chiron in the knee (thigh/hip). Pholus emerged from his cave to
witness the aftermath. Fascinated by the power of the Herculean arrows he picked one
up to examine. Excited, he dropped the arrow on his foot and died immediately—like
[132] THE ASTROLOGY BOOK