P L U T O
'A S T R O L O G I C A L' S U N M E R C U R Y V E N U S M O O N M A R S J U P R I T E R S A T U R N
'A S T R O N O M I C A L' E A R T H U R A N U S N E P T U N E P L U T O
D W A R F P L A N E T S , M O O N S & A S T E R O I D S
'A S T R O N O M I C A L' E A R T H U R A N U S N E P T U N E P L U T O
D W A R F P L A N E T S , M O O N S & A S T E R O I D S
"Raymond's had a rough couple of days. Snatched from his allotment by a flying starfish from Uranus and sold as a delicacy in a Venusian food market, it seems like his luck has changed when he is rescued by the travelling circus."
ROBERT RANKIN (The Greatest Show Off Earth, 1994)
ROBERT RANKIN (The Greatest Show Off Earth, 1994)
Magical properties of Pluto are rebirth, transformation and evolution. Pluto is associated with the number zero. Colors associated with Pluto are black and brown.
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Pluto's status as a planet has been continually defended by the International Astronomical Union. Although its size and elliptical orbit do differ from those of the solar system's other planets, these criteria are arbitrary traits that do not discount its status as a planet.
The controversy surrounding the planetary designation of Pluto sounds deceptively simple. While Pluto was identified as a planet upon its discovery in 1930, recent refinements in the taxonomy of orbital bodies have raised questions about whether Pluto is "really" a planet, or one of the smaller, more numerous objects beyond Neptune that orbit our Sun. Part of the controversy is essentially semantic: there is no rigid, formal definition of "planet" that either includes or excludes Pluto. The other eight planets are a diverse group, ranging greatly in size, composition, and orbital paths. Size is the primary distinction that sets them apart from the thousands of smaller objects orbiting the Sun, such as asteroids and comets. Pluto, however, is much smaller than the other planets but much larger than the bodies found in the asteroid belts. This fact alone has prompted some scientists to "demote" Pluto as a planet. Size is not the only issue raised by astronomers who want to reevaluate Pluto's planetary status. For example, they point out that Pluto's orbit differs significantly from that of the other planets, and that its composition is more similar to comets than to the other planets. Scientific organizations, such as the International Astronomical Union, however, maintain that Pluto is a major planet, and that such distinctions are arbitrary. Perhaps the most compelling aspect of this controversy is what it says about our understanding of the solar system. The image of our solar system consisting of one Sun and nine planets is elegant, easy to picture, and has been a staple of astronomy textbooks for more than 70 years. But as scientists learn more about the smaller bodies that orbit our Sun, and look far beyond Pluto and see a wide population of other orbital bodies, it seems simplistic and naive to view Pluto as the outer boundary of the solar system. If Pluto is re-assigned to the broader category of "Trans-Neptunian Objects," one of the small, solar system bodies orbiting beyond Neptune, it would become a recognizable exemplar of a group of far-off objects made mysterious by their distance from us, but nevertheless a part of our solar system. |
Magical planetary associations are useful in many aspects of ritual and spell craft. Read on to discover the magical associations of each planet and the sun and moon.
Magical Planetary Associations - Sun
Magical properties of the sun are success, honor and energy. The sun is associated with the number one. Colors associated with the sun are yellow and gold. Other magical planetary associations of the sun include the oak tree, sunflower, topaz and frankincense. The sun is also symbolic of male deity.
Magical Planetary Associations - Moon
Magical properties of the moon include intuition and peace. The moon is associated with the number two. Colors associated with the moon are white and silver. Other magical planetary associations of the moon include the willow tree, orchids, quartz crystals and jasmine. The moon is also symbolic of female deity.
Magical Planetary Associations - Mercury
Magical properties of Mercury are communication, thinking and learning. Mercury is associated with the number five. Colors associated with Mercury are gray and yellow. Other magical planetary associations of Mercury include the palm tree, lime, opal and cloves.
Magical Planetary Associations - Venus
Magical properties of Venus are friendships, sociability and emotions. Venus is associated with the number six. Colors associated with Venus are aqua blue and pink. Other magical planetary associations of Venus include the laurel tree, roses, emeralds, and doves.
Magical Planetary Associations – Mars
Magical properties of Saturn are realism, self preservation, self control and restrictions. Saturn is associated with the number eight. Colors associated with Saturn are indigo and black. Other magical planetary associations of Saturn are the cypress tree, lilies, sapphires and myrrh.
Magical Planetary Associations - Jupiter
Magical properties of Jupiter are opportunity, wealth, expansion and finances. Jupiter is associated with the number three. Colors associated with Jupiter are blue and violet. Other magical planetary associations of Jupiter include the olive tree, clover, lapis lazuli and copal.
Magical Planetary Associations - Neptune
Magical properties of Neptune are psychic energy, occultism, subconscious and spirit. Neptune is associated with the number seven. Colors associated with Neptune are lavender and purple.
Magical Planetary Associations - Uranus
Magical properties of Uranus are changes, news, tension and knowledge. Uranus is associated with the number four. Colors associated with Uranus are green and brown.
Magical Planetary Associations - Pluto
Magical properties of Pluto are rebirth, transformation and evolution. Pluto is associated with the number zero. Colors associated with Pluto are black and brown
Magical Planetary Associations - Sun
Magical properties of the sun are success, honor and energy. The sun is associated with the number one. Colors associated with the sun are yellow and gold. Other magical planetary associations of the sun include the oak tree, sunflower, topaz and frankincense. The sun is also symbolic of male deity.
Magical Planetary Associations - Moon
Magical properties of the moon include intuition and peace. The moon is associated with the number two. Colors associated with the moon are white and silver. Other magical planetary associations of the moon include the willow tree, orchids, quartz crystals and jasmine. The moon is also symbolic of female deity.
Magical Planetary Associations - Mercury
Magical properties of Mercury are communication, thinking and learning. Mercury is associated with the number five. Colors associated with Mercury are gray and yellow. Other magical planetary associations of Mercury include the palm tree, lime, opal and cloves.
Magical Planetary Associations - Venus
Magical properties of Venus are friendships, sociability and emotions. Venus is associated with the number six. Colors associated with Venus are aqua blue and pink. Other magical planetary associations of Venus include the laurel tree, roses, emeralds, and doves.
Magical Planetary Associations – Mars
Magical properties of Saturn are realism, self preservation, self control and restrictions. Saturn is associated with the number eight. Colors associated with Saturn are indigo and black. Other magical planetary associations of Saturn are the cypress tree, lilies, sapphires and myrrh.
Magical Planetary Associations - Jupiter
Magical properties of Jupiter are opportunity, wealth, expansion and finances. Jupiter is associated with the number three. Colors associated with Jupiter are blue and violet. Other magical planetary associations of Jupiter include the olive tree, clover, lapis lazuli and copal.
Magical Planetary Associations - Neptune
Magical properties of Neptune are psychic energy, occultism, subconscious and spirit. Neptune is associated with the number seven. Colors associated with Neptune are lavender and purple.
Magical Planetary Associations - Uranus
Magical properties of Uranus are changes, news, tension and knowledge. Uranus is associated with the number four. Colors associated with Uranus are green and brown.
Magical Planetary Associations - Pluto
Magical properties of Pluto are rebirth, transformation and evolution. Pluto is associated with the number zero. Colors associated with Pluto are black and brown