Basics
Class: Dwarf planet
Location: Trans-Neptunian object
Orbit length (approx): 305.75 years
Discovered: 31st March 2005, 06:13 UTC, from Palomar Observatory, CA, by Michael E. Brown, Chad A. Trujillo and David Rabinowitz
Notes: Dwarf planet and the largest of what is known as the classical population of Kuiper belt objects, with a diameter approximately that of Saturn’s moon Iapetus, or 60% that of Pluto. It has one known satellite. Its extremely low average temperature, about 40 K (-230°C), means its surface is covered with methane, ethane, and possibly nitrogen ices. Makemake shows signs of geothermal activity and thus may be capable of supporting active geology and harboring an active subsurface ocean.
Events at time of discovery:
- March 31 – The rebel Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, members of which had participated in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, announces that it is giving up its armed struggle. The FDLR has been a key source of instability in the aftermath of the Second Congo War.
- – Pope John Paul II is reportedly given Last Rites.
- – Terri Schiavo dies 13 days after her feeding tube was removed by court order in Florida, US.
- – Matthew Nagle, a 25-year-old paralysed man, has become the first person known to have benefited from a microchip implanted into his brain which can “read” thoughts. He can think his TV on and off, change channels and alter the volume thanks to the technology and software linked to devices in his home.
- – A UN report has stated that malnutrition rates in Iraqi children under five have almost doubled since the US-led invasion of Iraq.
- – The UN-backed Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, the most comprehensive survey of the Earth’s ecological condition to date, finds that the condition of the world’s ecosystems is deteriorating at a dangerous rate. There has been “”substantial and largely irreversible”” loss of biodiversity, the report says. Basic resources like timber, water, and food are at risk in some areas.
- – Disputed elections took place in Zimbabwe; Robert Mugabe won.
- – Israel has allowed people who received non-Orthodox training in Israel but were converted overseas to become Jews. These people will now be eligible for Israeli citizenship.
- – In South Africa, Johannesburg’s Labour Court rules that the mining strike of the 30,000 employees of mining company Gold Fields is “unlawful and unprotected” and orders them to go back to work. The National Union of Mineworkers states that it expects its members to obey the ruling.
- – Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement organizes partial strikes in various cities to protest over Punjabi influence in the country.
Naming information
Name origin: Make Make is considered the supreme divinity of Easter Island and the most important mythological being in the Rapanui worldview.
Mythology: Although in the legends of Easter Island, transmitted from generation to generation by oral tradition, other spirits and minor gods appear, only Make Make, generally represented with large circular orbits, appears with some frequency in the petroglyphs of Orongo or in engravings. Make Make was the creator of all things, the first man and the first woman, and he had the power to reward the good people and punish the bad ones. The most important ritual in honour of Make Make was the bird man (Tangata Manu) competition in which prominent contestants sent helpers to obtain the first manutara (sooty tern) egg. The victor became the new Tangata Manu, the representative of the god.
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| Petroglyph of Makemake with two birdmen, carved from red scoria. Photo by Rivi~commonswiki. |
Astrological data
Discovery degree: 20+ Virgo
Discovery Sabian: A Girl’s Basketball Team
Discovery nodal signature: Gemini–Sagittarius
Estimated orbital resonances: Chiron 1:6, Uranus 3:11, Neptune 7:13, Pluto 9:11, Eris 11:6
Discovery chart details: Disseminating phase chart. Makemake was sextile Saturn and quincunx Eris. Aries stellium with Sun-Venus tight conjunction. Pholus rising. Uranus semi-square and Juno semi-sextile North Node. Moon sextile Neptune, semi-square Chiron and sesquiquadrate Vesta; Sun-Venus sesquiquadrate Ceres and opposite Chariklo. Mercury retrograde sextile Mars, semi-sextile Uranus; Mars semi-square Juno; Jupiter semi-square Pholus. Chiron conjunct and Vesta square Nessus; Pallas sextile Pholus.
Summary and references
Could represent “the spiritual knowledge that [guarantees] right development”[1], technology clashing with natural existence, inorganic life, virtual reality, engineering and computing[2], relaxed, easy sexuality, narrow focus or hyperfocus, devotion[3], implementation of critical change, creative pursuit of goals, possible seclusion or brilliance followed by burnout, quickness in perceiving an opportunity and the resulting action[4]; “spiritual trickster who allows us to experiment”, capacity to view ourselves and our communities as an organic whole instead of disparate parts, learning about the bigger picture as well as the detail, expansive and keen vision, old ideas in a new light or format, practical application that refines the vision, playful attitude but earnest work[5].
References:
1) Amable: (136472) Makemake
2) Benjamin Adamah: Makemake (Dutch language article)
3) Zane Stein: Makemake Keywords
4) Linda Lee Berry: Makemake
5) Alan Clay & Melissa Billington: The Astrology of Makemake: Uranus’ Higher Octave (Dwarf Planet University, 2023)
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| Discovery chart for (136472) Makemake: 31st March 2005, 06:13 UTC, Palomar Observatory, CA. |