Skip to comments.
It's another world ... but is it our 10th planet?
The Australian ^
| 3/15/04
| Louise Milligan
Posted on 03/14/2004 11:46:12 AM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
SCIENTISTS have found a new world orbiting the solar system more than 3 billion kilometres further away from the Sun than Pluto and 40 years away from Earth in a space shuttle. NASA is expected to announce today the discovery of the space object, which some experts believe could be a new planet.
It is provisionally known as Sedna, after the Inuit goddess of the sea.
The discovery of Sedna 10 billion kilometres from Earth is a testament to the new generation of high-powered telescopes.
Measurements suggest Sedna's diameter is almost 2000km the biggest find in the solar system since Pluto was discovered 74 years ago. It is believed to be made of ice and rock, and is slightly smaller than Pluto.
The find will reignite the debate over what constitutes a planet. Some scientists claim even Pluto is too small to count as one.
According to astronomer Michael Brown of the California Institute of Technology, who discovered Sedna, there could be many other new worlds orbiting the Sun and waiting to be discovered.
"Sedna is very big, and much further out than previous discoveries," he said. "I'm pretty sure there are other large bodies up there too."
But physicist and cosmologist Paul Davies, of Sydney's Macquarie University, said it was folly to describe Sedna as a planet. "It's fun, it's exciting, but let's keep it in proportion," Professor Davies said yesterday.
He said scientists had known for "a decade or so the solar system does not come to an abrupt halt" and there were a number of "planetessimals" or little planets, like Sedna.
TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 10; planet; planetx; sedna; xplanets
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 121-125 next last
To: Tumbleweed_Connection
It is a big dirty snow ball. It should not be considered a terrestrial body i.e. "planet".
2
posted on
03/14/2004 11:49:23 AM PST
by
Destro
(Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorism by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Crummy PC name.
3
posted on
03/14/2004 11:49:24 AM PST
by
Monty22
To: Monty22
It's Andes, spelled backwards.
To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Well, our planet is 2/3 water on the surface, yet it is mostly rock. What does constitute a planet anyways?
Can a planet also be a moon? If there is a planet 50 times larger than jupiter, yet has a "moon" that is 3 times bigger than earth, it is both a planet and a moon?
I demand answers!
5
posted on
03/14/2004 11:52:19 AM PST
by
dogbyte12
To: Monty22
I dunno, I think Uranus is worse. Besides, I think they ran out of Greco-Roman gods already, and its better than calling it moehammud or something.
6
posted on
03/14/2004 11:52:29 AM PST
by
correctthought
(Shop smart, shop S-mart.)
To: correctthought
I think Uranus is worse Hey, now you are getting personal ;)
It reminds me of that Star Trek Episode where Kirk was upset when there were Klingons around Uranus.
7
posted on
03/14/2004 11:54:43 AM PST
by
dogbyte12
To: dogbyte12
A moon is something that revolves around a planet. If the moon only revolved around the sun, and not the Earth it might be a planet.
![](http://s88888536.onlinehome.us/images/milo.jpg)
Patriot Paradox
8
posted on
03/14/2004 11:55:04 AM PST
by
sonsofliberty2000
(If it wasn't for my horse I wouldn't have spent that year in college...)
To: correctthought
A big, frigid body? I'd call it "Hillary."
To: correctthought
They haven't run out of Disney dogs yet. "Goofy" would be good. ;o)
To: Tumbleweed_Connection
We should name it Leary, 'cause it's way out there.
11
posted on
03/14/2004 11:55:59 AM PST
by
thoughtomator
(All I ever wanted to know about Islam I learned on 9/11)
To: Tumbleweed_Connection
They keep finding planets...I'm gonna run out of toes to keep track of them....I got one more to go...unless I could use the corn on my left foot....which should be classified as a planet anyway.
12
posted on
03/14/2004 11:57:41 AM PST
by
Focault's Pendulum
(I just realized that because I'm lefthanded, the right side of my brain has been working correctly)
To: Destro
Sedna, I'm glad I medya.
To: Tumbleweed_Connection
The 10th planet??
Great news! A geneology search can finally be done on Dennis Kucinich.
To: Destro
Well
planet: any of the large bodies that revolve around the sun in the solar system
Looks like we need a defenite defenition of "large".
15
posted on
03/14/2004 12:03:50 PM PST
by
Bogey78O
(The Democrats promised jobs but all they gave you was gay marriage- AppyPappy)
To: Destro
It is about 1/6th the diameter of the earth.
That isn't exactly "small".
16
posted on
03/14/2004 12:04:06 PM PST
by
DB
(©)
To: correctthought
Uranus is the name of the Roman god of creation, called by the Greeks 'Cronus'. It's pronounced 'yur - ah - nus', much to the disappointment of thousands of third-graders, and it's a fine name for a planet.
Er, and 'Mohammed' is not a god in anyone's mythology.
17
posted on
03/14/2004 12:08:40 PM PST
by
SedVictaCatoni
(The Pledge of Allegiance was written by a rabid socialist. Look it up.)
To: Tumbleweed_Connection
Bump
To: Monty22
Crummy PC name.At least it's easier to pronounce than "Quaoar".
To: Tumbleweed_Connection
It's no bigger than a good-sized moon. Hardly a planet except it is out on its own in the big bad world. Looks like we will find a lot of potentially useful objects in the Kuiper Belt. Stepping stones to the next star.
20
posted on
03/14/2004 12:11:12 PM PST
by
RightWhale
(Theorems link concepts; proofs establish links)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 121-125 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson