Minerva and 93 Minerva Asteroid – Manchester, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 28.849 W 002° 14.144
30U E 550717 N 5926031
93 Minerva is a large main-belt asteroid, named after Minerva the Roman Goddess of Wisdom and war.
Waymark Code: WMDTW9
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 02/24/2012
Views: 3
The Asteroid
The asteroid was discovered on August 24th 1867 by James Craig Watson the Candian-Ameriacan director of the Detroit Observatory. He discovered a total of 22 asteroids, Minerva being his second find. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Craig_Watson
It is the 86th largest known asteroid with a diameter of 146 kilometres as measured by the Infared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). http://www.projectpluto.com/big_ast.txt
On August 16th 2009 it was discovered that 93 Minerva has two small moons. They are 4 and 3 km in diameter and separated by 630km and 380 km respectively. They were discovered by Frank Marchis, a French astronomer, and this blog explains how he did it. http://www.cosmicdiary.org/blogs/nasa/franck_marchis/?p=465
Further analysis of 93 Minerva and its moons has now determined that it has an unusually round shape compared to most asteroids. http://www.cosmicdiary.org/blogs/nasa/franck_marchis/?p=1190
The Roman Goddess Minerva
Minerva was the Roman Goddess of wisdom but also war. In art she is usually depicted wearing a war helmet, including this statue.
She was the daughter of Jupiter and Juno and sprang fully formed from Jupiter’s head.
Her use on this statue represents the fact that not only was the Duke of Wellington a warrior, but also a wise one, skilful in the tactics of battle.
The Statue
Minerva is one of four allegorical figures at each corner of the base of the main statue of the Duke of Wellington.
The statue was unveiled on 30th August 1856 to commemorate the life of the Duke of Wellington.
The Duke had been a hugely successful military commander who had fought in 60 different battles. He was especially loved in the UK for his defeat of the French and especially Napoleon Bonaparte.
In recognition of his successes in battle he won many awards and tiles both in the UK and in other countries in Europe. His highest titles were Duke of Wellington in the U.K., Duke of Vitoria in Portugal, Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo in Spain and Prince of Waterloo in The Netherlands.
He was also one of those rare people who went on after a successful military career to also have a successful political career. He was Prime Minister of the U.K. twice and then went on to become a Peer in the UK’s upper house, the House of Lords.
The city of Manchester had decided within 4 days of Wellington’s death that they wished to erect a statue and announced a competition.
The chosen design by Matthew Noble shows Wellington as a Politician giving a speech with 4 allegorical figures, representing four aspects of his life.
Mars, the God of War, sword in hand, exemplifying valour.
Minerva, representing wisdom, but also the Goddess of war..
Victory, holding a wreath of oak leaves in her right hand.
Peace, holding an olive branch, a cornucopia at her feet.
Website of the Extraterrestrial Location: [Web Link]
Website of location on Earth: [Web Link]
Celestial Body: Asteroid
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