The Intriguing Asteroid Phaethon: First to be Discovered via Images

by Jude Cowell

June 2, 2021:

For details on Phaethon (FAY a thon; #3200), the myth and the asteroid in Astrology, try Alex's Asteroid Astrology by Alex Miller. One factor associated with Phaethon is to 'assume responsibilities before being ready to handle them'. Naturally, rash or impulsive behavior is implied along with the consequences of 'being or feeling in over one's head'. Therefore, a fall of some kind often, if not always, results.

Perhaps such tendencies are intriguing enough yet there's also the fact that Phaethon was the first asteroid discovered from images taken by a spacecraft. This occurred on October 11, 1983 as Simon F. Green and John K. Davies searched Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) data for moving objects.

And in Greek Mythology, rash Phaethon was a son of Clymene and the Sun god Apollo. Here's a brief See U in History video re-telling Phaethon's tragic story with a link to the video added, below, in case the presentation is removed from JCAstro:

Phaeton: The Fall of the Son of Apollo from the channel's Greek Mythology Series.

So as I type today, where is asteroid Phaethon?

At 21 Tau 40. And where was Phaethon on October 11, 1983, or, basically what is Phaethon's Discovery Sign and Degree? That would be 11 Sag 32 - conjunct asteroid Circe (11 Sag 17) which, in Astrology, shows where we seek rescue or where we provide it.

Practically speaking, my suspicion is that over-his-skis Phaethon would've been only too happy to be rescued by Circe!