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Pluto fails the planet test
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Pluto is no longer the ninth planet in our Solar System. The tiny frozen world has been downgraded to “dwarf planet” status, joining three other more recently discovered orbiting bodies in that category. They include Xena (UB313), found in 2005 and 440 times larger than Pluto.
When the members of the general assembly of the International Astronomical Union met in August it was widely believed that they would vote in favour of increasing the number of planets to 12.
Instead, they chose to redefine more precisely what was meant by “planet” and as a result only eight – Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune – qualify for that title. The rest, including Pluto, are now dwarf planets.
According to Lynn Hayes, writing for Arizona-based “The National Ledger” (25 August): “Despite its small size, since its discovery in 1930 Pluto has been the most powerful planet in the astrological line-up. Pluto is associated with the major transformations of life, such as death and rebirth (both literal and figuratively) and personal empowerment.”
But she adds: “Pluto’s demotion from planet to ‘dwarf planet’ status will not diminish the respect astrologers have for this powerhouse of an influence.”
So, when 75-year-old Madhya Pradesh astrologer Kunjilal Malviya predicted his own death between 3pm and 5pm on a Thursday in October last year, Pluto presumably figured prominently in his calculations. Hundreds of people, as well as media representatives, flocked to the village of Sehara to see if the prediction would come true.
A TV news report showed the man’s relatives and friends seated around him, singing religious songs and reading from Hindu texts. His son was quoted as saying that all of Malviya’s predictions had come true, including the death of his own father 15 years earlier.
But, come the day of his expected death, his heart continued to beat.
Police had been posted outside the house, presumably to control the crowds. But similar failed predictions in the past have resulted in astrologers being beaten up by disappointed onlookers. There was also the suggestion that police were on hand to prevent the astrologer from achieving a self-fulfilling prediction … by killing himself.
As for his family, they were delighted that Madhya Pradesh had lived to foretell other future events. And there was no talk of failure. Instead, they gave thanks to those in the crowd who had successfully prayed for his survival.
But shouldn’t astrology have anticipated that outcome, as well? Or was Pluto to blame?
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Posted on Monday, September 04, 2006
Category: Future
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