Basics
Class: Ch-type asteroid
Location: Main belt
Orbit length (approx): 4.40 years
Discovered: 6th April 1855 (time unknown) from Paris, France, by Jean Chacornac
Notes: Has a cross-section size of 113 km.
Events at time of discovery:
- January 27 – The Panama Railway becomes the first railroad to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
- March 13 – Birth of Percival Lowell, American astronomer
- March 16 – Bates College is founded by abolitionists in Lewiston, Maine.
Naming information
Name origin: Greek goddess of sorcery.
Mythology: Kirke was skilled in various magics, potions and herbs. She lived on the island of Aiaia with her nymph companions, and is best known for her appearance in the Odyssey, where she changes most of Odysseus’ crew into pigs until, assisted by Hermes and Athene, he persuades her to reverse the spell. Kirke’s name means “to secure with rings” or “hoop around” – a reference to the binding power of magic.
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| Circe Offering the Cup to Ulysses (1891), oil painting by John William Waterhouse. |
Astrological data
Discovery degree: 25+ Libra (59% approx probability)
Discovery Sabian: An Eagle and a Large White Dove Change Into Each Other
Discovery nodal signature: Virgo–Aries
Estimated orbital resonances: Ceres 19:18, Jupiter 19:7, Saturn 20:3, Uranus 19:1
Discovery chart details: Noon. Circe was sesquiquadrate Saturn and Pallas. Stellium in Taurus. Venus conjunct and Sedna semi-square North Node. Mars semi-sextile Neptune; Jupiter semi-sextile Pholus and sextile Asbolus. Chiron sextile Sedna; Juno square Eris; Ceres square Nessus. Vast majority of bodies direct, the only exceptions being Juno and Circe.
Summary and references
Meanings offered so far include: seduction, bewitchment and being transformed against our will, magic, helping, sage advice and specialist information[1]; dislike of men, moral debasement[2]; herbal wisdom, affinity with Jupiter[3]; rescue, assistance, acting as a facilitator[4]; enchantment, solitary life and privacy, hospitality, knowledge of one’s passions, beliefs and motives, cunning and trickery, forming relationships on our own terms, undermining ourselves and others, healing, seeking alternative paths, doing what one loves[5]; psychological influence, a temptress[6].
References:
1) Alex Miller: Circe 34
2) Mark Andrew Holmes: Circe
3) Kirsti Melto: Full Moon in Leo – January 27, 2013
4) Martha Lang-Wescott: Basic Resources
5) TAKE Astrology: Asteroids in Astrology
6) J. Lee Lehman: The Ultimate Asteroid Book (Whitford Press, 1988)
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| Noon discovery chart for (34) Circe: 6th April 1855, Paris, France. |