Basics
Class: Dwarf planet (very red)
Location: Hills cloud (inner Oort cloud)
Orbit length (approx): 12965.93 years
Discovered: 14th November 2003, 06:33 UTC, from Palomar Observatory, San Diego, CA, by Michael E. Brown, Chad A. Trujillo and David Rabinowitz
Notes: Barycentric orbit of approximately 11,390 years according to Wiki; one of the widest known in the Solar System. (Discrepancy with JPL probably due to JPL listing heliocentric orbit). Very red, likely composed of water, methane, nitrogen and tholins.
Events at time of discovery:
- November 14 – 2003 California recall: California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley officially certifies the recall election and he declares Arnold Schwarzenegger the Governor-Elect.
- – In Paris, over 40,000 people participate in the European Social Forum.
- – Four former heads of Israel’s internal security criticise the policies of the right wing Likud-led government of Ariel Sharon towards Palestinians and say the policies if not changed would see Israel “headed for (an) abyss”.
- – Death of Giles Gordon, 63, Scottish literary agent and writer
- – Death of Gene Anthony Ray, 41, American actor, dancer, and choreographer
Naming information
Name origin: Inuit sea goddess.
Mythology: From JPL: “Sedna is the Inuit goddess of the sea and the mother of all sea creatures. She rewards the people of the land with food from the sea. Without her blessing, hunts fail and the people starve. She is thus one of the most important figures in Inuit legend.” There are several myths about Sedna; in most of them, her father cuts off her fingers while enraged and they become the first seals; she then sinks to the bottom of the sea and takes rulership of Adlivun, the Inuit underworld, where newly departed souls are purified before moving on. When she is angered, a shaman travels to wash and comb her hair for her because she is unable to do it herself.
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| Sculpture depicting Sedna (1988) by Inuk artist Qaqaq Ashoona, held in the National Museum of Finland. Photo by Sailko. |
Astrological data
Discovery degree: 17+ Taurus
Discovery Sabian: A Woman Airing an Old Bag Through the Open Window of Her Room
Discovery nodal signature: Leo–Aquarius
Discovery chart details: Disseminating phase chart with Neptune descending. Stellium in Sagittarius & 4th house; Yod between Moon, Sedna and Pluto; minor grand trine between Vesta, Pallas and Neptune. Eris semi-sextile and Nessus trine the North Node. Chariklo sesquiquadrate Sedna. Moon sesquiquadrate Mercury; Sun sextile Nessus, conjunct Pholus and square Asbolus; Mercury sextile Chariklo. Venus square Jupiter and semi-sextile Chiron; Mars trine Saturn (closely); Jupiter trine Chiron. Chiron semi-square Uranus.
Summary and references
Key themes found so far include isolation and remote places, separation, aloofness, willingness or refusal to take adult responsibilities[1]; sea life and the web of life/ecosystem, nature, conservation, rage versus appeasement[2]; equality and universal respect, dignity, each being’s unique role in evolution[3]; present environmental challenges, including global warming[4]; fear of all kinds, especially of social ills and our role in perpetuating them, and projection[5]; our deeper psyche, intensity, spirituality, connection with other realms, relief through humour[6]; forgiveness, discernment and clarity, responsibility, acknowledgment of free will, far-sightedness, sorrow, emotional healing, dharma[7]; upsetting order and closed systems, ignoring societal expectations, creative potential, the “drama” playing out between macrocosm and microcosm[8].
References:
1) Alex Miller: Sedna 90377
2) Mark Andrew Holmes: Sedna
3) Amable: (90377) Sedna
4) Kirsti Melto: Full Moon in Sagittarius – May 23, 2024
5) Neptune’s Aura Astrology: Sedna 90377
6) Linda Lee Berry: Sedna
7) Philip Sedgwick: New Dwarf Planets, Eris, Sedna, Centaurs & More
8) Benjamin Adamah: Centaurs, Damocloids & Scattered Disc Objects (VAMzzz Publishing, 2019)
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| Discovery chart for (90377) Sedna: 14th November 2003, 06:33 UTC, Palomar Mountain, CA. |