Planet Debate Heats Up (ALL HELL BROKE LOOSE)

Sky Tonight ^ | August 18, 2006 | Richard Tresch Fienberg

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

All hell broke loose today as astronomers began openly debating the definition of "planet" at the general assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in Prague, Czech Republic. About 100 planetary scientists — and just as many interested onlookers from other disciplines — met to discuss the definition that was proposed earlier this week (see our August 16th story and Robert Naeye's blog) and that is scheduled for an up-or-down vote among all 2,500 attendees at the assembly next Thursday, August 24th.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Those planetary scientists sure are passionate.

[RobRoy]

Well, at least they know what the word "evolution" means. ;)

Words are just symbols, and even in science, where verbal precision is almost as important as in law, some of the most commonly used words have different meaning for different people. Usually the differences are subtle, but they can be subtle as when an airplane on a 4,000 mile journey starts the trip only one degree off course. The results can be dramatically off the mark in the end.

[Publius6961]

BUMP!

[colorado tanker]

IMHO, the Kuiper Belt objects should not be considered planets, even if they are round.

OTOH, I would keep Pluto on the list due to historical precedence, stare decisis if you will, at least until lay people digest the facts and would feel comfortable dropping Pluto from the list.

[Pyro7480]

Planet debate ping!

[syriacus]

I'm glad that Clyde Tombaugh isn't around to see this happening, though there were hints of this before his death.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Pyro7480 for the ping, L in M for the topic.

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[RightWhale]

Sitchin's book "Twelfth Planet" needs retitled. "Fifteenth Planet" or "Fiftieth Planet".

[wbill]

All hell broke loose today as astronomers began openly debating ...things were OK until someone started a slap fight. Then, another guy got stabbed with a compass, and it was on.

[cripplecreek]

I think the self importance of the scientists causes them to over complicate things.

They can't decide if Pluto is a planet so they add Pluto's moon Charon into the mix and call it a potential planet. However that doesn't make the rest of the moons in the solar system planets, only Charon which orbits an object that they can't decide on. To further convolute the issue they add an asteroid (Ceres) into the mix.

Maybe we should add the two Martian moons to the mix. They sure don't look like moons to me, they look like captured asteroids.

[Vinnie]

Name the Pluto-like planets..

Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, etc..

[RightWhale]

in science, where verbal precision is almost as important as in law

Only if you are talking to a mechanical engineer about work and power. The intent is to reduce the planet count gap between Solar planets and extrasolar planets to maintain our position in the galactic pecking order.

[nickcarraway]

I guess since none of these guys has a chance at going on a date any time soon, they have to expend their energy somewhere.

[r9etb]

This debate is the scientific version of "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin." It's an excellent example of how technogeeks of whatever stripe can get wrapped around the axle about minutiae that have no real scientific value. It's all about defending one's own view on the matter.

[Empireoftheatom48]

This would be sad. I was once a member of the Astro Society of Las Cruses. Got to sit next to Clyde Tombaugh on one occasion. He was very hunched backed and frail but still had a sharp mind. He wore a Disney Watch with of course Pluto on it!

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Do you mean these?

[ClearCase_guy]

This debate is the scientific version of "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin."

It's a question of whether the definiton of a planet comes about through a mysterious act of Creation, or whether it's all a matter of Intelligent Designation. Or maybe it's just random chance.

[AZLiberty]

A 4-inch refracting telescope is the weapon of choice between astronomers. It makes a good club.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

It provides a useful break from weighty (bariac?) topics like whether or not the weirdo in Thailand killed the little girl in Boulder ten years ago or news of the latest missing White woman.

[arkham]

Does anyone know if any of the asteroids or ort bodies are large enough to be spherical due to their own gravity? This to me seems like a good criteria to separate planets from 'oids. The fact that Pluto orbits the Sun (and not another planet) seems like good criteria to separate it from being a moon (despite it's sixe).

28 posted on 02/16/2005 7:51:58 AM PST by arkham

My opinion on this issue is still the same as it was a year and a half ago. Nice to know the real astronomers are coming around. I agree with others that Charon should be considered a moon, though.