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Experts' vote could mean demotion for Pluto
Rocky Mountain News ^
| August 12, 2006
| Jim Erickson
Posted on 08/13/2006 5:58:09 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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Update to Patrick Henry's topic (link to be posted below). Hmm... Rocky Mountain News... subliminal suggestion got me started whistling "Rocky Mountain High", such that I'd been doing it for a few minutes before I realized it. Oh, and in case anyone feels like asking, don't -- Esposito can go "be fruitful and multiply, but not in those words", Pluto is and always has been a planet.
1
posted on
08/13/2006 5:58:10 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
To: annie laurie; garbageseeker; Knitting A Conundrum
2
posted on
08/13/2006 5:58:47 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(updated my FR profile on Thursday, August 10, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
![To Pluto -- And Far Beyond](http://www.parade.com/export/sites/default/images/covers/2006/011506COV.jpg) |
"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. |
3
posted on
08/13/2006 6:00:53 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(updated my FR profile on Thursday, August 10, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
To: SunkenCiv
YIKES!
4
posted on
08/13/2006 6:02:07 PM PDT
by
festus
(The constitution may be flawed but its a whole lot better than what we have now.)
I wonder what Esposito's view is about the smaller moons of, say, Jupiter, or of Saturn (since he's involved with the Cassini mission) -- are they not moons? Not true moons, because they're not big enough? He needs to be slapped around for a half hour or so.
5
posted on
08/13/2006 6:02:45 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(updated my FR profile on Thursday, August 10, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
To: festus
Pluto is a dog, but just what the H is Goofy anyway?
6
posted on
08/13/2006 6:03:12 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(updated my FR profile on Thursday, August 10, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
To: festus
beat me
"Ruh Roh"
7
posted on
08/13/2006 6:04:00 PM PDT
by
digger48
To: SunkenCiv
In my opinion it will always be 9.
8
posted on
08/13/2006 6:04:09 PM PDT
by
cripplecreek
(If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?)
9
posted on
08/13/2006 6:04:53 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(updated my FR profile on Thursday, August 10, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
To: cripplecreek
Very appropriate tagline. ;')
10
posted on
08/13/2006 6:21:14 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(updated my FR profile on Thursday, August 10, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
To: SunkenCiv
Donald and Mickey aren't going to be happy about this!
11
posted on
08/13/2006 6:42:29 PM PDT
by
saganite
(Billions and billions and billions-------and that's just the NASA budget!)
To: saganite
PatrickHenry: Uranus seems secure.
12
posted on
08/13/2006 6:51:00 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(updated my FR profile on Thursday, August 10, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
To: SunkenCiv
There was a program on the Science Channel on this very topic earlier today. The discoverers of
1992QB1 think that only the inner terrestrial planets and the outer gaseous planets are the actual planets (so there are only 8), and everything else, including bodies like our moon and the 4 largest moons of Jupiter, should be classified as other kinds of objetcts. The "Pluto as a planet" apologists, on the other hand, agree with the Parade definition, and that everything, including our moon, the largest moons, Pluto and Charon, and the largest asteroids should be classifed as planets.
13
posted on
08/13/2006 6:56:28 PM PDT
by
Pyro7480
("Love is the fusion of two souls in one in order to bring about mutual perfection." -S. Terese Andes)
To: Pyro7480
That isn't the Parade definition, and I'm not an apologist.
14
posted on
08/13/2006 8:26:28 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(updated my FR profile on Thursday, August 10, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
To: SunkenCiv
Whoops, my error. So, I guess you believe there are only 8 planets then?
15
posted on
08/13/2006 8:38:47 PM PDT
by
Pyro7480
("Love is the fusion of two souls in one in order to bring about mutual perfection." -S. Terese Andes)
To: SunkenCiv
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.So that excludes Earth's Moon, and includes Ceres, Vesta, Pluto, and Charon.
16
posted on
08/13/2006 8:42:42 PM PDT
by
Pyro7480
("Love is the fusion of two souls in one in order to bring about mutual perfection." -S. Terese Andes)
To: Pyro7480
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.
There are at least ten planets. Pluto is a spheroid (as is the Earth), orbits a star directly, and isn't the moon of another planet. Charon, by contrast, orbits Pluto, as do at least two other moons, so Charon and the other two moons are not planets.
17
posted on
08/13/2006 9:47:13 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(updated my FR profile on Thursday, August 10, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
To: SunkenCiv
Charon, by contrast, orbits Pluto, as do at least two other moons, so Charon and the other two moons are not planets.Well, the Pluto-Charon system has its barycenter outside of both bodies, so it could be argued that the Pluto-Charon system is a double-planet, while Nix and Hydra orbit the two.
18
posted on
08/13/2006 9:56:20 PM PDT
by
Pyro7480
("Love is the fusion of two souls in one in order to bring about mutual perfection." -S. Terese Andes)
19
posted on
08/13/2006 10:04:08 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(updated my FR profile on Thursday, August 10, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
http://www.astronomy2006.com/planet-definition.php
Astronomy 2006
Planet Definition
The ongoing work on an IAU Resolution to scientifically define the meaning of the concept planet is of particular interest to the public.
The IAU is the arbiter of planetary and satellite nomenclature since its inception in 1919. The boundary between planets and other solar system objects has never been defined and the recent discoveries of new objects in the solar system has made it necessary for the IAU to address this issue.
The decision process and a draft Resolution for the Definition of a Planet will be published in the conference newspaper during the first week of the General Assembly.
The IAU Executive Committee invites the General Assembly to a Plenary Discussion on the Definition of a Planet issue:
Tuesday, August 22, 12:45 - 13:45 in the Congress Hall.
The press is invited to attend.
20
posted on
08/13/2006 10:05:34 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(updated my FR profile on Thursday, August 10, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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