The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS made its closest approach to Earth on Dec. 19, 2025. The comet was at 10+ degrees of Virgo conjunct the South node of the Moon and cubewano Aya. Aya was named last summer from Akkadian mythology after the goddess of dawn. She was the wife of the Sun god and called the “morning-maker”. The Sun was at 27+ Sagittarius, exactly at the Milky Way’s Galactic Center and in conjunction with cubewano Varda. We remember that comet 3I/ATLAS originated in the direction of the Galactic Center. Varda is named after the Star-Queen in J. R. R. Tolkien’s fictional mythology. She created the stars and constellations and also set the vessels of the Sun and the Moon upon their appointed courses in the sky.

At the New Moon in Sagittarius on Dec. 20, comet 3I/ATLAS was at 9+ degrees of Virgo. The New Moon is always a conjunction of the Sun and the Moon, so the Moon was now also at the Galactic Center and conjunct Varda.

On Dec. 21 is the Winter Solstice. The Sun enters Capricorn and the days start to slowly get longer from now on. In the solstice chart the Sun is still in a tight conjunction with Varda. The Moon at 17+ Capricorn is in conjunction with cubewano Máni, another large object named last summer, and asteroid Vesta. In Norse mythology Máni is the personification of the Moon. Vesta is the brightest asteroid seen from Earth. It is named after the goddess of the hearth and keeper of the sacred flame. The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is at 8+ degrees of Virgo.

The days have been dark and short, and the Moon is invisible at the New Moon. Professor Emeritus of Space Astronomy Esko Valtaoja has recently stated that seeing light requires conscious effort. Let us seek the light.

The Full Moon in Gemini is exactly square to the lunar nodes. Mercury, the ruler of Gemini, turned direct on Nov. 29, 2025. The Sun in Sagittarius is in conjunction with minor planet Hidalgo.

From geocentric viewpoint the lunar nodes are the two points where the monthly path of the Moon and the yearly path of the Sun intersect. The ascending node can be associated with the future and the descending node with the past. The nodal axis is a symbolic path which involves, quoting Melanie Reinhart, ”not only our incarnate life, but also other levels of existence, some known to us and others not.” She calls the degrees squaring the nodes ”balance points”. Now the luminaries occupy those degrees.

944 Hidalgo, possibly once a comet, was discovered in 1920. The Minor Planet Center classifies it both as a Main-belt asteroid and an unusual object. It has traditionally been considered an asteroid, because centaurs were not recognized as a distinct class until the discovery of Chiron in 1977. Actually Hidalgo is the first member of centaurs ever to be discovered. Its eccentric orbit takes it to the inner edge of the asteroid belt, crosses the orbit of Jupiter, and grazes the orbit of Saturn. Its diameter is approximately 52 km and the shape likely elongated.

Centaur Hidalgo was named after Mexican revolutionary Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, who is recognized as the father of Mexican independence. Hidalgo can show affinity for Spanish-speaking countries and cultures. Acting on one’s beliefs, showing courage to challenge authorities, and protecting the weak can be manifestations of Hidalgo.