Jupiter in Capricorn

The fifth planet from our Sun, Jupiter, can be viewed in the night sky with a naked eye. Our ancestors recognized it as one of our brightest wandering lights. Venus, or 'Morning Star', is the only one brighter.

Like our neighbor Saturn (who is also visiting Capricorn), our historians leave the claim of Jupiter's discovery to Galileo Galilei for which four of it's moons he discovered are named for. The Galilei Moons are called Io, Europe, Ganymede, and Callisto, named for the lovers of the Roman God. Galileo's proper assumption that these satellites circled around Jupiter gave credence to the Copernican revolution theory, which places the sun in the middle of our system with all the other planets circling around it. This is what modern day astronomy is based on. I have to really wonder how any of the lay-people of that age ever believed the world really was flat or that WE were the center of the solar system! But humans can be pretty self-centered...except for these humble astronomers who could look up at the stars and understand there's an infinite Universe none of us on Earth will ever fully understand! Could this possibly be why we still today name new celestial bodies we find after mythological figures of our history?

Jupiter has quite a lot in common with other outer planets, like Uranus and Saturn. It takes 11.8 years to rotate around our Sun. It is also a gas giant, with clouds of ammonia crystals, sulfur and two other compounds. It also has an atmosphere of gases like methane, ammonia and water. Two compounds, hydrogen and helium, are in similar quantities found in the sun. The core of Jupiter is ice, rock, and metals, while it's atmosphere also contains compressed hydrogen gas, and liquid metallic hydrogen. I wonder if it would smell like Uranus? You can read my blog on Uranus in Taurus here!

Jupiter is called a 'failed star' due to it's being in similar composition of gases as our Sun. It would need at least 70 times it's current mass to trigger nuclear fusion. Despite it's mass, Jupiter just doesn't have enough gravity, as it such a dense planet, to ignite and become a sun.

Jupiter is even bigger in mass than all the other planets in our system if they were combined. Only taking 9 hours and 55 minutes to make a full rotation on it's axis, it bulges out around it's equator. Kind of reminds us of the God who ate his children! Could there be more than one worried about being dethroned? Our history is rich with these stories! The Mesopotamians called it Marduk and recognized it as the patron for the city of Babylon. Germanic tribes called it Thor and to the Greeks it was known as Zeus. One super neat fact about Jupiter and its mass is that it if it expanded any more, it would actually begin to collapse inwards on itself. This would make it smaller!

The Great Red Spot on Jupiter is a storm so big, three Earths could fit inside. We really have no idea what makes it red. It could be red organic compounds. This storm is believed to have lasted at least as long as humans have been able to view it using telescopes, but we really have no conclusive truth. It seems to be a continuous 350-year storm that has raged on Jupiter's atmosphere, takes 6 Earth days to rotate, and spins in an anticlockwise direction.

Jupiter in Mythology

In Roman mythology, Jupiter is known as the King of the Gods. His father was Saturn, his brother was Neptune (God of the Sea), his sister, Juno, became his wife, and after taking over the throne, it was Jupiter who stood by humans during battle and brought victory to the winner. He brought light and controlled the weather. The Romans astronomical symbol for Jupiter is the lightning bolt.

The myth of Jupiter is also the same story the Greeks used for their telling in their myth for Zeus, known to be a fierce warrior. The Olympic Games for instance, were originally created to honor the god Zeus. Names may change but the story is the same. Jupiter was the Greco-Roman patriarch of the gods and goddesses that oversaw the Roman Empire. Each deity had a temple and many Roman citizens adorned their homes with bronze statues bearing an image for their god or goddess. They also paid homage in rituals throughout the year, using various feasts, weddings, births, and battles. Until Christianity took over and changed the way the Roman Empire worshipped during times of crises and celebrations.

Jupiter is a type of Father-god and also a great seducer of human women. He was known to be a constant source of provocation to his wife's jealous nature. Changing into beasts so he could better seduce women, left him with a legacy of having many half-god children. Juno (or Hera, depending on the Greek or Roman myth you read) his wife, was known to take her wrath out on not just the innocent maidens, but his innocent suspected offspring as well. There are many tales of power-struggles and competition between all the gods and goddesses, and Jupiter and Juno, as well. Quite a few Emperors also famously decided they were his half-god sons. These all made for great entertainment and many famous battles for the throne.

Jupiter in Capricorn

Jupiter started transiting through Capricorn beginning December 2, 2019. It takes him about a year to travel through a sign. He won't leave this no-nonsense sign of the zodiac until December 19, 2020. What we have here is the jovial king of gods, who doesn't really worry about the consequences of his actions, visiting who I consider the two makers and shapers of the zodiac. In case you don't already know, Saturn is also visiting Capricorn right now. We have a couple outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto), and even Mars in Capricorn right now. Mercury and Saturn are also in the 3rd House of Astrology, and even though it is ruled by Gemini, is in the sign of Capricorn today. The 3rd House of Astrology governs Communication and your immediate environment. While Mars, Jupiter and Pluto are in the 2nd House, which is ruled by Taurus, and is in the sign of Sagittarius. The 2nd House governs Material Wealth.

Jupiter may be the King of the Gods, but he's intelligent enough to know that things need to get done. He's a warrior by trade and loves the spoils of war. What we have right now with the Coronovirus is a type of war. He can lend his strategy to help us get through until Aquarius arrives in full. Jupiter is known as the planet of luck and abundance, expansion and tolerance. All these are what make a pretty good sportsman, which is pretty insightful of him, considering Jupiter also rules the 9th House that governs travel, foreign matters, and higher learning (like University, languages, and commerce), spirituality and philosophy. Right now, at this moment, there is no planet in this house. It is Sagittarius that rules this house, but, with Jupiter so busy, it is in the sign of Cancer. Cancerians, ruled by the feminine aspects of our Moon, are very much about the children, loved ones, and home. So let's hope that Jupiter is giving his all to Capricorn during this transit, so our world governments can find a treatment and even a cure for this life-changing Coronavirus sweeping the globe!

With most of us stuck at home, instead of outdoors, working, going to school, or in an office from dawn until dusk, we are all learning a new level of communication and tolerance. We are also learning to budget our money, and how to ration our available food supplies. Not taking Earth's pleasures is a transit I wrote a blog about, Uranus in Taurus, and toilet paper aside, this is definitely not the time to take anything for granted! Jupiter is also the planet of higher learning and spirituality, so I guess this is a great time for us as we go deeper within ourselves to learn about who we are, and about those who are nearest and dearest to us.

In the weeks, months, and even years that follow, I aim to definitely heed my own advice, and the advice of many others, in regards to my blog Survival Tips 101! I really think I should have bought some dirt so I can learn how to grow vegetables, like potatoes in my apartment...can anyone else relate? Let's just remember that Jupiter is the planet of luck, and the God he is named for was a warrior who helped humans in battle. Stay safe, help others, and be jovial, be merry, but we'll all have to wait to enjoy the spoils of war!

Did you like what you read? If you did, why not leave me a tip? If not, you can check out my profile to see what else you like!

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/hubble-captures-vivid-auroras-in-jupiter-s-atmosphere