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Now that all the bowl games have been played; the top-100, top-50, and top-10 lists for
2001 have been played, printed, viewed, and reviewed; and now that prisoners captured
during fighting in Afghanistan have said they saw Usama bin Laden alive on December 14,
one thing remains constant: it’s 2002 and it’s going to be a very good year.
How do I know it’s going to be a very good year? Well, let’s see, there are several ways.
I could be like some people and turn to the stars to see what the future holds. After
September 11, it seems that most of the 2001 year-end celebrations were no different than
ones in past years, except for one thing: there was a celestial body present, and evident,
adding hope for many, and worry for others. I cannot say that I hold out any hope for
humanity or fear of calamity based on the proximity of a planet’s orbit, but others will
argue their points to no end, and are doing so on Usenet now.
Jupiter, the word, is Latin, and is traced back to the chief Roman god, the bigwig, the
big cheese, or was it the big pasta or ragoo? No, the big ragoo was on a 1970s TV show.
Anyway, the mythological deity, Jupiter, was the husband of Juno. In his role as chief
bigwig, Jupiter was also the god of life, the god of the sky, and the god of weather.
Jupiter, it seems, was one busy god. In contrast to Jupiter being a big cheese, Jupiter
the Planet is the largest planet in the solar system. Jupiter the big cheese, on top of
his other responsibilities, was also the god of the state, including the state’s welfare
and laws. No, it wasn’t the state’s welfare office that Jupiter headed up, either,
smarty-pants.
Because of the mythological god’s ``authority,’’ many have already started their
start-of-year prophecies. While there’s no accountability for modern prophecies, which is
probably fortunate for the many psychics, fortune tellers, and astrologists, it is
unfortunate for many who need to hear soothing words.
Jack Horkheimer, astronomer and executive director of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium,
told the media on December 30 that Jupiter's position would be in opposition, or directly
opposite the sun, as seen from Earth. In plain English, that simply meant Jupiter would be
brightly illuminated, especially for those in the Northern Hemisphere.
What’s the significance of the planet being so grossly visible? Well, for the average
person, nothing more than some nice eye-candy this past New Year’s Eve. It’s been noted
that the last time the gaseous planet with the large red spot was in directly opposite the
sun and overhead at midnight on a New Year's Eve was way back in 1752. Jupiter won’t be
making this bright New Year’s Eve appearance again until 2084.
Horkheimer said the bright celestial display was "kind of a poetic way to tell us that
perhaps next year will be a lot brighter than the past year." Poetic, perhaps. Prophetical, I doubt, but then again, I’m a proverbial Doubting Thomas.
How do I know 2002 is going to be a very good year? That’s simple: I resolve it to be a
good year for my family and I, and know that what I resolve to do, I can do. Well,
personal resolve and reliance on God. Mostly, I will rely on God to make it a good year,
but there is still some stuff that comes right down to me, such as the choices I make; the
books I read; the people I associate with; and the activities of which I choose to
partake. So, in my final summation: 2002 is going to be a very good year.
Oh, yeah! Happy New Year to all, and to all, a Healthy and Happy Year.
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"In the Light of Opposing Jupiter ... "
