Basics
Class: Asteroid
Location: Near Earth, Apollo group
Orbit length (approx): 1.03 years
Discovered: 31st March 1989, 06:43 UTC, from Palomar Observatory, CA, by Henry E. Holt and Norman Gene Thomas
Notes: Sub-kilometre-sized asteroid, potentially hazardous. Passed very close to Earth in March 1989 and was discovered nine days later.
Events at time of discovery:
- March 29 – The 61st Academy Awards are held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, with Rain Man winning Best Picture, and Jodie Foster wins her first award for Best Actress.
- March 31 – Birth of Liu Zige, Chinese swimmer
- – Birth of Alberto Martín, Spanish footballer
- April 1 – Margaret Thatcher’s new local government tax (the poll tax) is introduced in Scotland. It will be introduced in England and Wales the following year.
Naming information
Name origin: Greek god of medicine and patron of doctors.
Mythology: After Asklepios’ mother died while pregnant, his father Apollo cut the unborn child from her womb. From this Asklepios received his name which means “to cut open.” Raised by Chiron, he gained immortality through his skill in medicine and was placed amongst the stars as the constellation Ophiuchus (“the Serpent Holder”).
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| Mosaic from 2nd-3rd century CE. Asclepius (centre) arrives in Kos and is greeted by Hippocrates (left) and a citizen (right). Photo by Tedmek. |
Astrological data
Discovery degree: 26+ Virgo
Discovery Sabian: A Group of Aristocratic Ladies Meet Ceremonially at a Court’s Function
Discovery nodal signature: Cancer–Aries
Estimated orbital resonances: Mercury 3:13, Venus 3:5
Discovery chart details: Last quarter phase chart with Pholus and Mars descending, Pallas on the IC and Nessus on the MC. Stellia in Aries and Capricorn. Asclepius quincunx Ceres. Jupiter square and Vesta sextile the North Node. Moon trine Nessus; Sun sesquiquadrate Juno, quincunx Asbolus and (with Venus) semi-sextile Sedna and sextile Pholus. Mercury square Uranus; Mars quincunx Neptune, semi-square Ceres and square Asbolus. Vesta quincunx Jupiter; Asbolus trine Neptune.
Summary and references
Suggestions so far include: the inner healer, the need for or beliefs about healing[1]; medicines, physicians, cures, resources necessary for recovery, various approaches to remedies[2]; resurrection, medical skill, vocation and professions, shamanism, prophetic dreams[3].
References:
1) Amanda Painter: Slow Your Roll
2) Alex Miller: Asclepius 4581
3) TAKE Astrology: Asteroids in Astrology
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| Discovery chart for (4581) Asclepius: 31st March 1989, 06:43 UTC, Palomar Mountain, CA. |