Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: PatrickHenry; RadioAstronomer
Both definitions seem vague to me.

Re: star vs planet
if we think it's big enough to burn it's on matter, but isn't doing so? What if it's doing so but only on a very limited basis and doesn't look like a star?

Re: small end of planet
How round is round? We have mountains, does that mean our gravity isn't stronger than our material? Does an asteroid of fine particles that assumes a round shape qualify as a planet?

I think on the small end they should set a specific mass. On the large end, it should not be burning it's own material and it should be orbiting something.

What do we call a planet that's not orbiting a star? Is it still a planet?

45 posted on 06/22/2006 5:25:02 AM PDT by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: DannyTN

The only thing I learned that sticks in my head is: Stars twinkle, planets do not.


47 posted on 06/22/2006 5:29:52 AM PDT by Sacajaweau (God Bless Our Troops!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies ]

To: DannyTN
What do we call a planet that's not orbiting a star? Is it still a planet?

From the origin of the word, even more so.

65 posted on 06/22/2006 5:52:10 AM PDT by Erasmus (Run amuck. There's a lotta mucks out there a-waitin' to be run!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies ]

To: DannyTN

Some small stars orbit a larger star or stars, and yet they are stars rather than planets. The currently closest star which isn't the Sun to Earth, Proxima is a small star orbiting two larger stars who have a sort of insular binary system between them.


66 posted on 06/22/2006 5:54:51 AM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu ( www.answersingenesis.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies ]

To: DannyTN
Re: star vs planet
if we think it's big enough to burn it's on matter, but isn't doing so? What if it's doing so but only on a very limited basis and doesn't look like a star?

As Jupiter currently does. It emits more radiation than it receives from the Sun. None of it is in visible wavelengths though. Is Jupiter therefore a star?

148 posted on 06/23/2006 12:49:50 AM PDT by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 45 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson