Out of this world: magazine launches name-the-planet initiative

Yahoo News ^ | Tue Aug 2, 2005 | AFP

[Nachum]

PARIS (AFP) - Should it be named after a Greek or Roman god? A great scientist or artist? How about calling it after a character in the "Star Wars" film series? Or your best friend?

The British magazine New Scientist has called on readers to help suggest a name for the solar system's 10th planet, whose discovery was announced last week by a team led by US astronomer Mike Brown of the California Institute of Technology.

The new world has been given the provisional designation of 2003 UB313.

But Brown has 10 years in which to think of a catchier name and have it approved by a panel of the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

Brown, a fan of TV's Warrior Princess, has given the informal name of Xena to 2003 UB313, a frozen orb some 15 billion kilometres (nine billion miles) from Earth, New Scientist said on its website (www.newscientistspace.com) on Tuesday.

"But that was our tongue-in-cheek internal name, never intended for public consumption," Brown told the magazine.

Under the IAU's nomenclature guidelines, names should be pronounceable, non-offensive, 16 characters or less in length and preferably one word.

Names should not be too similar to an existing name of a minor planet or natural planetary satellite.

In addition, names for persons or events known primarily for their military or political activities are acceptable only after 100 years have elapsed since the person died or the event occurred.

Commercial names are not allowed, and the names of pet animals are discouraged.

[Nachum]

I've always wanted to name the planet "Bob", myself.

[alnick]

In addition, names for persons or events known primarily for their military or political activities are acceptable only after 100 years have elapsed since the person died or the event occurred.

Too bad. I'd love to give the lefties hissy fits by having it named Planet Dubya. ;-)

[jaime1959]

I with ya. The planet "Bob" it shall be.

[Brett66]

I believe Brown has already submitted the name "Lila" to the IAU, after his daughter. The IAU usually defers to the discoverer, but they might consider alternatives if for some reason they don't accept Brown's suggestion.

[Paul_Denton]

I say name it in honor of Ronald Reagan

[WarPaint]

It's always been Planet X. I'm for leaving it at that.

[flashbunny]

Planet funk-o-tron.

[Michael Goldsberry]

Rupert!

http://www.douglasadams.com/

[randog]

The British magazine New Scientist has called on readers to help suggest a name for the solar system's 10th planet...

I thought Pluto was downgraded to "planetoid", giving us 8 planets before this dirty snowball was found? Are "planet" and "planetoid" the same thing now, or have they placed Pluto into a "planet-like" category allowing us to keep the 9 planets? Lastly, who's responsible for this cluster-***?

[GreenHornet]

the names of pet animals are discouraged

Darn! I wanted to call it "Fluffy".

[mikrofon]

Planet, Ima

[rightwingintelligentsia]

In addition, names for persons or events known primarily for their military or political activities are acceptable only after 100 years have elapsed since the person died or the event occurred.

That's a shame. I thought it would have been perfect to name it "Hillary." They're both cold as ice and way out there.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

How's about Planet Dean, cause it's waaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy out there?

[JenB]

Yup, Planet Bob gets my vote.

[Congressman Billybob]

It seems to me that the answer is self-evident. It should be named for the greatest single scientific intellect the human race has so far produced. Therefore, the name of the planet is "Einstein." (However, when my sense of humor kicks in, I kinda prefer the name, "Bob.")

Congressman Billybob

Latest column: "South Pacific" Lesson about Muslims

[thoughtomator]

It's so far out there that the only good name for it is Howard Dean.

[WinOne4TheGipper]

You beat me to it! (murmurs)

[thoughtomator]

Doh you beat me to it!

[Yardstick]

Pluto Jr.

[Fiji Hill]

As a former member of the Young Americans for Freedom (YAF), I would like to suggest that the planet be called Yaf, which was the name of a planet in the movie Star Wars I (1977). However,they'll probably name it after a Roman deity. If they do so, my suggestion would be Bacchus.