by asserting, “I have studied the subject, Mr. Halley, and you have not.” In any event,
Newton never recanted his belief in astrology, nor did he ever imply that the new sci-
ence he and his contemporaries were creating invalidated astrology in any way.
NIGHTHOROSCOPE
A night horoscope is a horoscope in which the Sun is below the horizon.
NIKE
Nike, asteroid 307 (the 307th asteroid to be discovered, on March 5, 1891), is approx-
imately 58 kilometers in diameter and has an orbital period of 5 years. It is named
after the Greek goddess of victory. Nike indicates a fortunate outcome to activities
undertaken in matters associated with its sign and house position.
Sources:
Kowal, Charles T. Asteroids: Their Nature and Utilization.Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Ellis
Horwood Limited, 1988.
Room, Adrian. Dictionary of Astronomical Names.London: Routledge, 1988.
Schwartz, Jacob. Asteroid Name Encyclopedia.St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1995.
NIOBE
Niobe, asteroid 71 (the 71st asteroid to be discovered, on August 13, 1861), is approx-
imately 106 kilometers in diameter and has an orbital period of 4.6 years. There were
two mythological Niobes. One was the first mortal woman loved by Zeus. The other
was a woman who was inordinately proud of her many children and ridiculed the god-
dess Leto about her children. In revenge, Leto had all of Niobe’s children slain, upon
which witnessing, Niobe turned to stone. According to Martha Lang-Wescott, the
asteroid Niobe indicates inordinate pride in children, creativity, fertility, or virility,
which leads to humbling experiences or sorrow. Niobe’s key words are “humility” and
“fertility.” Jacob Schwartz gives this asteroid’s astrological significance as “humbling
lessons from a source of pride or creativity.”
Sources:
Lang-Wescott, Martha. Asteroids-Mechanics: Ephemerides II.Conway, MA: Treehouse Moun-
tain, 1990.
———. Mechanics of the Future: Asteroids.Rev. ed. Conway, MA: Treehouse Mountain, 1991.
Schwartz, Jacob. Asteroid Name Encyclopedia.St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1995.
NOCTURNAL
Nocturnal means of or belonging to the night. In classical astrology, particular planets
were classified as nocturnal or diurnal, no matter where they were in a horoscope. In
contemporary astrology, planets are nocturnal if they are located below the horizon
(in houses one through six). Many astrologers believe that planets above the horizon
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Nocturnal