Posted on 09/09/2006 8:17:25 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Earlier this year, the BBC interviewed Mrs Venetia (Burney) Phair, the only living person to have named a planet... The IAU decision was political. Scientists voted to demote Pluto to the status of "dwarf planet." ...In California, of course, the real politicians found a reason for action in Pluto's demotion. While there are many more serious problems--over crowded schools and universities, decayed freeways, and the health care crisis, just to name a few—fifty-four of our esteemed elected officials found the time and energy for a Resolution that supports Pluto's status as a full-fledged planet. They call the IAU "mean-spirited" for dissing Pluto, and that's just the start... [T]he planetary scientists will continue to debate the definition of a planet as the census grows. We know of more than 200 extrasolar planets, and as we learn more about these other planetary systems, the new definition will require further refinement... Pluto, on the other hand, is now a part of politics. Here's the text of the resolution for your consideration and amusement.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
Somehow, I can't help thinking that this anti-US, anti-Pluto move is somehow related to the WOT. But anyway, two pings in one. :')
Ex-Planet [Pluto] Gets a Morale Boost in Madison, WI
JSOnline via AP | September 5, 2006 | Staff Writer from AP
Posted on 09/06/2006 9:50:44 AM EDT by Diana in Wisconsin
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1696356/posts
Pluto demotion won’t change local display
By Kim Strom - kstrom@dailypress.net
Published: Friday, September 08, 2006
http://www.dailypress.net/stories/articles.asp?articleID=4228
The Pluto display included in Escanaba’s "Walk of the Planets" won’t be changed after experts no longer consider it a planet.
(Daily Press photo by Kim Strom)
The Fight for Pluto Rages On
Skytonight | September 1, 2006 | Editors of Sky & Telescope
Posted on 09/02/2006 8:47:21 AM EDT by Lonesome in Massachussets
thttp://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1694339/posts
 |
"To Pluto And Far Beyond" By David H. Levy, Parade, January 15, 2006 -- We don't have a dictionary definition yet that includes all the contingencies. In the wake of the new discovery, however, the International Astronomical Union has set up a group to develop a workable definition of planet. For our part, in consultation with several experienced planetary astronomers, Parade offers this definition: A planet is a body large enough that, when it formed, it condensed under its own gravity to be shaped like a sphere. It orbits a star directly and is not a moon of another planet. |
Thanks!
What strikes me as very odd is that there doesn't appear to be a firm DEFINITION but they demoted Pluto anyway. This tells me how idiotic they are as well as illogical.
I've said it before and will say it again. They want Pluto gone because they want the discoverer gone!!
I wholeheartedly agree!
Look at post #2. Here's a ping list that got overlooked!
Hey, what gives SunkenCiv?? Is this an elite list I can't stick on the Master?? ;-P
Heh... yeah, I thought about tellin' ya... right now I'm just basking in the glow of having what I believe to be the smallest ping list on Free Republic. ;') And I've got another one that's a secret, but that one has maybe 25 names...
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