[meteorite-list] IT'S OFFICIAL -- A NUMBER AND A NAME

From: Sterling K. Webb <sterling_k_webb_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Sep 14 01:25:31 2006
Message-ID: <00ca01c6d7be$2ff066c0$5b4ae146_at_ATARIENGINE>

Hi,


    The IAU has just approved a NAME for "Xena,"
or 2003 UB313:
http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/special/08747.pdf

    Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams, Circular
No. 8747, says the name approved is ERIS, the Greek
Goddess of Discord; the moon has been named
DYSNOMIA. The suggestions are Mike Brown's,
thus proving that he has a sense of humor.
    Dysnomia means "lawlessness." For the body once
named "Xena" (played on TV by Lucy Lawless) to
have a moon named "Lawless"-ness is a wonderful
pun. Somebody has lots of time on their hands, or
a quick mind. Dysnomia is the child of Eris ("Strife").

    ERIS means "strife" in the literal sense. The Latin
for the same Goddess is "Discordia." The Greeks
regarded "Strife" as a creative force. Hesiod says
of Eris: "She stirs up even the shiftless to toil; for
a man grows eager to work when he considers his
neighbour, a rich man who hastens to plough and
plant and put his house in good order; and neighbour
vies with his neighbour as he hurries after wealth.
This Strife is wholesome for men. And potter is angry
with potter, and craftsman with craftsman, and beggar
is jealous of beggar, and minstrel of minstrel."


Sterling K. Webb
Received on Thu 14 Sep 2006 01:25:27 AM PDT