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To: MtnClimber

Who has the authority to decide what is a planet or what is not?


8 posted on 07/05/2016 6:22:14 PM PDT by yarddog (Romans 8:38-39, For I am persuaded.)
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To: yarddog

I don’t know. I still consider Pluto to be a planet.


9 posted on 07/05/2016 6:25:35 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: yarddog

Some astronomy board or body. It’s just a matter of nomenclature. Pluto is still there even if it’s not called a planet.


12 posted on 07/05/2016 6:31:14 PM PDT by maro (what did the President know and when did he know it?)
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To: yarddog
Who has the authority to decide what is a planet or what is not?

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the self-appointed arbiter of what is considered a planet, and decide what name is/is not acceptable for celestial bodies.

It's sort of like the Nobel committee. It wasn't created by treaty of any legal document; it's just a collection of academics who have arrogated to themselves authority that all the other eggheads defer to.

These jackwagons decided amongst themselves that Pluto was no longer considered a planet, and the rest of the media eagerly fell into line. The majority of planetary scientists dissent, but they can't public quarrel with the IAU lest their peer reviews/grant money/telescope time dries up.

13 posted on 07/05/2016 6:36:33 PM PDT by Spirochete (GOP: Give Obama Power)
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