Novae and supernovae, somewhat loosely defined, are exploding stars.
Novae(the plural of nova, which is Latin for "new star")are stars which every so often for some reason violently throw off their outer layers of hot gas, resulting in a temporary increase in brightness which may reoccur again and again.
Supernovae are stars which destroy themselves in a cataclysmic detonation that greatly boosts their brightness on a one-time-only basis; afterwards they become nebulae, neutron stars, or black holes if they are massive enough.
In astrology, novae and supernovae indicate the injection of new ideas, a new way of thinking, into society, which may have a lasting or a transitory impact.
E.g.:The supernova of 1054 in Taurus whose remnant is now the Crab Nebula occurred in the same year as the Great Schism between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christian churches preceded the pivotal Battle of Hastings in England by 12 years. The Crusades and the Reconquista in Spain, which resulted in the influence of Western Europe by Islamic civilization, also began shortly thereafter.
The 1572 supernova in Cassiopeia known as Tycho's Star after its best-known observer, Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, whose remnant is the powerful radio source Cassiopeia A, and the 1609 supernova in Ophiuchus known as Kepler's Star after Johannes Kepler, both occurred as England was just starting to make serious attempts to colonize North America. They also coincided with the Siglo de Oro flowering of art and literature in Spain and an analogous flowering of art and literature in England under Elizabeth I, and a scientific renaissance occurring in Europe, as well as the beginnings of Puritanism in England.
Vivian Robson in "The Fixed Stars and Constellations In Astrology" (pp.226-228) says that the "old authors" included novae under the same heading as comets and applied the same significations to both. Robson further says that novae's effect appears to be exerted through the constellations in which they appear, and also through the zodiacal sign and degree to which their position corresponds, and says that their influence is assigned to the planets according to their colors and that they are said to cause unusual heat, epidemics, wars and changes in government, windstorms, earthquakes and floods. Perhaps the influence of novae and supernovae isn't quite so malefic. Robson states that the influence of the nova manifests faster when discovered in the east than in the west. I have not had occasion to verify this yet. It is clear, though, that the degrees of novae and supernovae are activated when transiting or progressed planets conjoin them.
Occurring in Cygnus in 1975, this nova is officially known as Nova Cygni 1975; I call it Honda's Star after the late Japanese astronomer Minoru Honda, who discovered it on August 29 of that year.
It occurred near the faint star Xi Cygni in the neck of Cygnus the Swan at 16 Pisces 20(Tropical)(declination 47N56), attaining magnitude +1--conspicuous brightness though not dazzling prominence--for several months before fading. I myself viewed it, at age 12; I remember it as having a distinctly reddish color, which would probably give it a general Mars nature. Since it is a nova and not a supernova, it is likely to flare up again at some time in the far future.
Cygnus is very far north, yet not circumpolar, so Honda's Star was visible throughout the world, but especially affected the Northern Hemisphere. The Pisces placement of Honda's Star indicates that it signifies "religious disputes," according to Robson; civil war, intraethnic warfare or other forms of infighting, and dangers to marine or aquatic life.
A good keyword for Honda's Star would be "Space Oddity", as in Major Tom in the classic David Bowie tune "Space Oddity." It occurred at around the same time as a period of mass psychosis and disillusionment, of turning inward and dropping out, much as Major Tom dropped out of Earth society after being launched into orbit; this reached its apotheosis in Argentina, Indochina and certain parts of Africa.
A widespread drought and famine in the Sahel region of northern Africa occurred at about this time. There was also increased awareness of the vulnerability of dams to failure and of flood damage on barrier islands and on river floodplains, and of a general decline in fisheries as well as toxicity of fish and other seafood due to pollution and other forms of toxic contamination. Diversity and tolerance of religious viewpoint became widely accepted. Traditionally Pisces-ruled Portugal jettisoned many of its overseas colonies, including Angola, Mozambique, and East Timor, among others, following a coup. Intense suffering due to Idi Amin's tyranny in Pisces-ruled Uganda came to light, and another Pisces nation, Venezuela, nationalized its oil industry; Egypt, yet another Pisces nation, moved toward peace with Israel. The Pisces-ruled states of Florida, Maine and Vermont grew and prospered while the fourth Pisces-ruled state, Nebraska, lost population but became admired for its healthful lifestyle; Pisces-ruled cities such as Phoenix, San Antonio and Minneapolis prospered while other Pisces-ruled cities, like Washington, Shreveport and St. Petersburg(Florida), entered a decline. A trend against wide acceptance of drug use began, except for marijuana, which an increasing number of people wanted legalized. Emphasis in dealing with substance abuse shifted toward treatment rather than punishment as substance abuse began to be accepted as a disease. There began a trend away from acceptance of driving while intoxicated and stiffer punishment of those caught doing so. There was increased concern with helping the homeless; abused, neglected, abandoned, runaway and discarded children and teens; other victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault; the mentally ill and retarded and other disabled people, prisoners, disadvantaged people in general, and large animals such as elephants and whales. There was some interest in aquaculture around this time, in farming the sea and also extracting minerals from seawater and from the sea floor, as well as desalinization of seawater to obtain drinking water and disputes over national ownership of mineral and fishing rights, fisheries depletion, and through efforts to end whaling. This would be consistent with Robson's opinion on the Pisces placement of Honda's Star and also of the constellation Cygnus' influence:"a contemplative, dreamy, cultured and adaptable nature"; poorly controlled, unsteady affections and talents that develop naturally; love of the arts, water and swimming.
This supernova occurred in Dorado within the nearby galaxy Nubecula Major in 1987, and is officially known as Supernova 1987A; I call it Shelton's Star after Ian Shelton, the Canadian astronomer who discovered it on February 24 of that year at the observatory at Cerro Tololos, Chile.
The nearest naked-eye star to Shelton's Star is Iota Doradus, a faint star which actually lies between Earth and Nubecula Major, in the tail of Dorado the Swordfish. Shelton's Star's zodiacal longitude is 7 Aquarius 41(Tropical, like all zodiacal values on this site unless stated otherwise). Its declination is 69S16. It had a reddish color, perhaps a Martian influence, and was visible only in the Southern Hemisphere, Dorado being a southern circumpolar constellation.
A good key-phrase for Shelton's Star is "altruism = subversion". In a nutshell, the notion that the desire to nurture, uplift and defend that which is at a disadvantage(the poor, the helpless, the homeless, the disabled; racial, religious and sexual minorities; women, the environment, animals, plants and ecosystems; children; etc.)--that the desire to nurture, uplift and defend these individuals, groups, life-forms and other entities constitutes a betrayal of society and of morality.
Shelton's Star also was a harbinger of what has been called "the culture wars", that is, the battle between those who would defend and promote free individual expression and belief, and those who would restrict and narrow it.
Dorado signifies "obstacles and hindrances", according to Robson, while Nubecula Major, in which Shelton's Star appeared, signifies a lot of hard work and great persistence; Dorado also signifies keen intelligence and artistic ability and a desire to look good, while Nubecula Major also signifies artistic ability and a bent toward the poetic as well as imagination. Mars and Aquarius both signify war and disease; Aquarius also rules storms.
Aquarius-ruled technology, particularly biotechnology and the Internet and other forms of computer technology, is revolutionizing society. There is an increased awareness of global warming(Mars-ruled heat in the Aquarius-ruled atmosphere), ozone depletion and finiteness of global fresh water resources(Mars again, manifesting in an Aquarian international way); and a proliferation of niche radio and television broadcasting, as well as an increase in the number of nations with space programs and a trend toward cost-effectiveness over glittering grand projects in space travel and exploration. Traditionally Aquarius-ruled Russia experienced another revolution, this one a liberalizing one which ultimately resulted in the disintegration of the Soviet empire. Aquarius-ruled Arizona and Oregon boomed, while Kansas and Michigan, also Aquarius states, declined; Massachusetts became a technological leader. Some affected Aquarius cities were Indianapolis, Columbus(Ohio), Dallas, Fort Worth, New Orleans, Louisville, Milwaukee, and Jacksonville.
This nova, formally known as Nova Aquilae #2 1999, was discovered near Delta Aquilae in Aquila the Eagle by a Portuguese amateur astronomer, Alfredo Pereira, and attained fourth magnitude at its brightest in 1999. Its zodiacal longitude as of 2001 is 23 Capricorn 19(Tropical) and its declination is 4N57.
I associate this nova with ordeals, bad experiences, embittering, repudiation and grievances, which are a blessing in disguise, because they release from bondage.
This nova, being located in Aquila(a Mars-Jupiter influence) and in the third decan of the sign Capricorn(main ruler Saturn, decan ruler Mercury), may relate to the current(as of December 2001) climate of religious and racial intolerance and domineering government officials, concern with terrorism and with war.