Basics
Class: IR-type hot cubewano
Location: Kuiper belt
Orbit length (approx): 309.66 years
Discovered: 21st June 2003, 06:03 UTC, from Kitt Peak Observatory, AZ, by Jeffrey A. Larsen
Notes: Binary object, possibly a dwarf planet. Moon is named Ilmarë after Varda’s handmaiden.
Events at time of discovery:
- June 20 – Former President of France Valéry Giscard d’Estaing presents his draft for a Constitution of the European Union.
- June 21 – Declaration of Thessaloniki: The European Union encourages accession of states of the western Balkans.
- – Death of George Axelrod, 81, American screenwriter
- – Death of Charles Dédéyan, 93, French literary historian
- – Death of Jules Marchal, 78, Belgian diplomat and historian
- – Death of Leon Uris, 78, American author
Naming information
Name origin: Varda is queen of the Valar (essentially a goddess) in Tolkien’s cosmology, who kindles the first stars before a group of Ainur (consisting of the Valar and their assistants, the Maiar) enter the world they created through their music. Her husband is Manwë. She has Marian characteristics.
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| There don’t seem to be any available depictions of Varda, so I found this 2015 gem by Jeremy Harbeck of NASA, showing an iceberg in the aptly-named North Star Bay, Greenland. |
Astrological data
Discovery degree: 2+ Sagittarius
Discovery Sabian: Two Men Playing Chess
Discovery nodal signature: Libra–Aries
Estimated orbital resonances: Uranus 3:11, Neptune 8:15, Pluto 4:5, Eris 9:5
Discovery chart details: Disseminating chart close to last quarter with Gemini stellium including Ceres and Venus-Mercury on IC. Asbolus, Mars and Uranus rising. Varda was square Mars and Uranus and quincunx Saturn; Sun semi-sextile North Node. Mercury-Venus trine Neptune; Mars trine Saturn and semi-square Chiron. Jupiter quincunx Chiron; Saturn trine Uranus; Pluto quincunx and Pholus opposite Sedna. Chariklo quincunx Eris.
Summary and references
Meanings offered so far include: being careful what you wish for[1]; privacy, security and attendant concerns, or discovering new forms of interaction[2]; light, illumination and dualism[3]; co-operation, receptivity, diplomacy, hospitality, shared resources in relationship, negotiation and arbitration, selfishness versus getting over oneself[4].
References:
1) Mark Andrew Holmes: Varda
2) Amable: (174567) Varda
3) Kirsti Melto: Full Moon in Aries – Oct. 13, 2019
4) Philip Sedgwick: New Dwarf Planets, Eris, Sedna, Centaurs & More
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| Discovery chart for (174567) Varda: 21st June 2003, 06:03 UTC, Tucson, AZ. |