Meet The Dwarfs

Here are Pluto's pals in order of size, their astrological meaning as determined by Sue Kientz's exhaustive research (and in most instances, detailed in her book More Plutos), links to free chapters, articles, and ephemerides or calculation tools where available:

• ERIS - Virtual twin in size to Pluto, this icy world named after Mars' sister has an orbit that averages twice as far away from the sun as Pluto's. For a time, Eris (2314-2338 km) was considered slightly smaller than Pluto (2368 km), but with a margin of error that might mean it was a bit larger (Eris is a more massive object). After the historic New Horizon's 2015 flyby, Pluto was accurately measured as 2370 km/diameter, confirming once and for all it is larger than Eris, even factoring in the margin of error.
     But enough dwarf-planet waistline oneupsmanship; read my online articles that argue that Eris is "The Other," representing alienation and the outcasts among us, even as it points to an awakening of community and cohesiveness that we sorely need; see Eris's meaning for astrologers and why Eris is the Antidote to Pluto. ERIS EPHEMERIS
• MAKEMAKE - The third-largest Dwarf Planet in the Kuiper Belt, with a diameter of 1502 km, finally revealed it's got a buddy out there, a small moon nicknamed "MK 2," announced April 2016.
     Read my online article on Makemake from the Nov./Dec. 2014 issue of the Astrological Journal, which reveals some shocking and surprising sides to this odd little giant at the edge of Kuiper space. Finally understand Dali, Hitchcock, and even Benjamin Franklin! MAKEMAKE EPHEMERIS
• HAUMEA - Fourth largest Dwarf Planet in the Kuiper Belt, with two known moons, Hi'iaka and Namaka, and a ring (discovered in 2017). Haumea spins very fast (rotating every four hours) and is therefore elongated (1,920 x 1,540 x 990 km) and shaped somewhat like a football due to a cataclysmic impact it suffered long ago that blasted material off its surface, creating the group of smaller Kuipers called the Haumea Collisional family (or Haumeids). Haumea has never been the same since!
     This damaged yet still formidable Dwarf Planet brings life and death, change and transformation. I explain more in this e-newsletter piece written for the National Council for Geocosmic Research (NCGR), Pluto & Haumea. You need to know Haumea! HAUMEA EPHEMERIS
• GONGGONG (called 2007 OR10 in More Plutos) is another really sizeable Dwarf Planet. Observation in 2018 revealed that Gonggong apparently weighs in at 1230 km, and so is now the fifth-largest trans-Neptunian Dwarf. This distant world, with one known moon named Xiangliu, and an orbit as eccentric and long as Eris's, was the largest unnamed body in our solar system until February 2020. Co-discoverer Mike Brown conducted an online poll in Spring 2019 that determined Gonggong was chosen by the public, and that name was announced in this February 5, 2020, MPC Circular (see pg. 1065), along with its moon's name, Xiangliu.
     If you peruse my "plog" articles, you'll see Gonggong/OR10 represented as a "weeping heart" icon, as the Big Softie appears in charts of those who tender great compassion and sensitivity toward others (positive aspects). Its dark side is to woefully lack any compassion (e.g., Norway massacre killer Anders Breivik has natal Sun-Mars-Merc stellium conjunct Gonggong), or to be hyper-sensitive (e.g., the anti-social actress Garbo, Sun sq. Gonggong, really disliked going out because of very sensitive hearing, and often wore earplugs). Gonggong/OR10 has its own chapter in More Plutos, complete with many examples. GONGGONG EPHEMERIS
• QUAOAR - Another big fella, estimated to be 1105-1115 km through the waist. Quaoar has one moon called Weywot and, most recently, a ring was discovered like neighbor Haumea. Could they be engaged?
     Finding Quaoar prominently placed in a chart clues you that the person is a gambler, a player, someone who takes risks and experiments. Whether enjoying sports, entertaining (especially singing or dancing), testing a new theory or formula, or pulling a sensational prank, Quaoar-aspected natives want to play with people and things, and in effect, create a new reality for themselves and others. This trait can be a good or bad thing, depending on the person's level of selfishness (or selflessness). Examples of Quaoar's influence are mentioned in the "plog" articles and in its chapter in More Plutos. QUAOAR EPHEMERIS
• SEDNA - This planetoid is around 1000 km in size and has such an oblong orbit that it takes 11,400 years to orbit our sun! Sedna is approaching perihelion (closest approach) in the coming years, and is actually traveling faster along the ecliptic than Eris (which is around aphelion or its farthest distance from the sun).
     Sedna as our farthest planetoid reminds of Saturn (farthest visible) and Neptune (farthest to be called a "planet"), and people with Sedna aspecting personal planets have deep emotional challenges that seem like Saturn-Neptune (Sat-Ne even sounds like Sedna!). At best, Sedna persons are persistent, with Saturnine determination and Neptune's long-suffering patience; at worst, they can seem overwhelmed and frozen (Saturn), disconnected from reality (Neptune). Read more in my Sedna article that appeared in The Mountain Astrologer's Feb./March 2015 issue. SEDNA EPHEMERIS
• 2002 MS4 - This 934-km spaceball is, since the Feb 2020 naming of Gonggong, the largest unnamed world in our Solar System. No known moon, so it's hard to pinpoint actual size (could be 50 km smaller or larger than 934 km), but when added to charts one finds it pinpoints some brainy types: Einstein, Newton, Goethe, and Oppenheimer had Sun trine MS4, while Hawking and Edison (who both worked tirelessly in different ways, to bring forth their genius) had Sun square MS4. Galileo's scholarship got him in trouble, thus his Mercury semisq. MS4 suggests MS4 may indeed be an indicator of learning, knowledge, thought. Though not included in More Plutos, it should have been, and I'm hoping to write more about this helpful Dwarf in future. 2002 MS4 EPHEMERIS
• ORCUS - This large, ~910-km big boy has a moon called Vanth, and orbits just slightly closer to the sun than Pluto, completing a solar orbit one year earlier than Pluto. Orcus apparently really likes to one-up Pluto. Another fun fact: when Vanth addresses its parent body, it says "Orcuth." It's so cute.
      Those sporting Orcus aspects to personal planets often have a perfection problem: they insist on following (or even making) the rules, they obsess about cleanliness, and may even be a bit OCD (obsessive-compulsive). Orcus individuals make lists, adjust your tie, and/or too often send their food back to the kitchen. Orcus traits are helpful if you're cataloguing all the visible stars or every genus of fish; bad if you insist your daughter only marry the "perfect" suitor. Princess Diana (Sun conj. Orcus) seemed "perfect" for Prince Charles, or so the British royals thought. Many other examples, presented in perfectly arranged order, are in More Plutos. ORCUS EPHEMERIS
• 2002 AW197 - Unnamed but looking for love, this medium-sized planetoid has a diameter of 886 km, with no moon to speak of. One of Mike Brown's planets, he didn't even come up with a silly nickname - what's up with that?
     So I came up with one, Edison, as this substantial Dwarf indicates a new path or light-bulb idea that leads one to the next level. With supportive (trine, sextile, some conjunctions) aspects, you are on your way; hard aspects, however, might reveal the "new idea" is not accepted or its use illusive. Ayn Rand (Sun sq. Edison) saw her novel philosophy as brilliant, yet disappointingly it did not universally catch on as she hoped. Further elaborations on Edison are in the Plog articles and in More Plutos' Edison chapter. 2002 AW197 EPHEMERIS
• SALACIA - This salty Dwarf, sized up at 854 km and towing a moon called Actea, is not in More Plutos, although it should be as it is above my self-imposed size cut-off. Sadly I was unaware of Salacia until after my book was complete.
     However, I made up for it by researching its use and meaning for this "plog" article from 2016, Salacia, which seems to show this body representative of inhibited or finally released expression or feelings. SALACIA EPHEMERIS
• IXION - Like Orcus, Ixion orbits around Pluto's neighborhood, except it travels mostly on the outside of Pluto's path. Ixion is smaller (800 km) but nonetheless feisty, in true Pluto fashion.
      While Orcus loves rules and order, Ixion breaks the rules. But this doesn't mean it's only prominent in the charts of criminals. Those who rightly challenge bad laws, like Martin Luther King, Jr. (Sun trine Ixion) who fought for civil rights, and Galileo (Sun conj. Ixion), who took on the Catholic church and its suppression of science, display Ixion at its finest. Examples galore of good, bad, and ugly Ixion natives are in the Plog section and in More Plutos' Ixion chapter. IXION EPHEMERIS
• VARDA - Like Salacia, I learned of Varda (689 km, with moon Ilmar ) after More Plutos was published. Varda orbits erratically as far out as past Makemake, and as far in to just inside Pluto's orbit. I denote Varda with a capital "V" with a star in its crux in the more recent Plog charts on this website, to represent Varda's myth from Tolkein's books as Queen of the Valar, creator of the stars.
      Currently I have no article focusing on Varda, but this will change soon. I can tell you Varda indicates that which is not directly sensed or seen, but is discovered or rightly intuited nonetheless. Stay tuned. VARDA EPHEMERIS
• 2005 RN43 - Another of the Unnamed Ones, RN43 measures up to 679 km in diameter, give or take 50-70 km (perhaps depending on your telescope). A fellow astrologer, Aliza Rood, brought this Dwarf to my attention, and together we've observed a kind of "waiting" mode that affects those with RN43 in contact with personal planets at birth, or experiencing it in transit or progression. Take former Vice President Mike Pence: Sun opposite RN43 natally, and now transiting RN43 is square his Sun. He kept hoping he was just one scandal from becoming President. If you have Solar Fire, try it out and see what you come up with. Aliza and I want to know. Again, this one is not in More Plutos as I didn't know I should have waited for it. No online Ephemeris available
• VARUNA - Don't get this one mixed up with Varda - this is Varuna (pron. VAR-eh-nuh), named for the Hindu god of oath breakers. Also relatively large at 668km, this moonless world orbits just inside Haumea's orbit, completing its trip around the sun just two years sooner than its bigger neighbor.
     Get a feeling for Varuna by reading this short treatment inside a past plog article, the section called Varuna: Storyteller or Tale-Teller. Those with Varuna prominent are basically liars or writers, creating a new reality with words. Many examples of Varuna in action are in its chapter in More Plutos. VARUNA EPHEMERIS
• 2002 TC302 - This Dwarf Planet, once believed to be ~1145 km/diameter, occulted a star and revealed the embarrassing truth: it was half that size, at 584 km. So, no book chapter for YOU!
     Still, my research on TC302 found it valuable as an indicator of things or motivations hidden and/or revealed. TC is closely resonant with Neptune, orbiting the sun exactly two times for every five Neptune orbits, so its aid in secretive matters made perfect sense. A "plog" article dedicated to TC will be revealed soon! No online Ephemeris available
• 2002 TX300 - Not to be confused with TC302 above, this amazing little world, although admittedly small (a star occultation once yielded a diameter of 286 km, but it's now believed to be closer to 320 km) TX300 is perhaps one of the shiniest objects in the solar system, which made it seem bigger. Like TC, TX was thought to be 1000 km! This bright Dwarf is also the largest member of the Haumeids, after Haumea itself, and is here because Mama Haumea would not consent to appear unless her big baby was also included. What can you do?
     But seriously, TX was extensively researched before that reputation-killing occultation, so it "made" the cut-off size early on. In the end, I could not resist keeping TX in the book because it so clearly indicated people in journalism, television, and broadcasting. Just think: a man may be just one man, but give him a megaphone, a microphone, or put him on TV, and that one man's impact becomes far reaching! So "little" TX's physical makeup (small, but powerfully bright) echoes its meaning, big time. You don't have to be on the news to have TX figure in your life. With supportive TX aspects, you're a dependable and accurate purveyor of facts and events. But with squares, oppositions, and the like, you might be spouting FAKE NEWS! As you might imagine, the chapter on TX300 in More Plutos illuminates our time. No online Ephemeris available

To get the full and uncensored story with many examples on what these objects signify, order MORE PLUTOS, available from Amazon. If you're still unconvinced, preview a few chapters of the book; see the links in the top right column to read PDFs on Eris, Makemake, Haumea, and Sedna.