Posted on 08/14/2006 4:32:42 PM PDT by grjr21
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has gathered in Prague to finally settle a matter of galactic import: whether Pluto is in fact a planet or should be relegated to the second division of Kuiper Belt Objects and similar detritus.
Astonomers have to date failed dismally to agree what exactly constitutes a planet, as demonstrated by last year's Xena controversy which saw stargazers claim they'd discovered the solar system's tenth full-fat planet, while others used the opportunity to call for Pluto and Xena's classification as minor planets.
The matter may soon be settled once and for all, The Detroit Free Press reports, as the IAU is scheduled to "consider a resolution that defines a planet". The committee writing the resolution is maintaining a stony silence as to what it will finally recommend, but whatever it decides will inevitably cause a rumpus in either the pro or con Pluto camps.
Steve Maran, author of Astronomy for Dummies told the The Detroit Free Press: "This is such a hot issue. They never rule on things like this. There's a lot more to it than science," alluding to the fact that Pluto is the only planet discovered by an American.
Indeed, the US has a soft spot for Pluto, and any atttempt to downgrade its status will certainly upset large numbers of fanatical schoolkids such as those who in 2000 bombarded the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York with "hate mail" after it omitted the planet from a solar system exhibit.
Robert Williams, a vice president of the International Astronomical Union who's "deeply involved in the deliberations on Pluto", admitted: "My niece said to me, 'Are you going to demote Pluto?'."
Williams did, nonetheless, show his icy scientific cool with: "If that's the way it is, that's what we do. It's not written in stone anywhere there's got to be a numerable number of planets. If it upsets schoolchildren, I regret that." ®
When Muslims teach Astronomy
I have always thought that Pluto was a Mickey Mouse planet anyway.
Apparently Pluto will not be allowed reentry until it has fully complied with all of it's treaty requirements.
Wow. This reads like a spoof. I was halfway through before I realized it was real.
I say we vote Pluto out. We'll show them!
Somebody tell Nadreck of Palain VII; but he won't really care.
I agree. The whole thing sounds Goofy to me.
Kinda like trying to dislodge Cynthia McKinney!
I'll follow the guidance of the astronemers who built the pyramid at teotuican where there are monuments to ten planets, one of which is Pluto. We don't know what they called them.
The IAU should be deciding on the name for the 10th planet.
But I feel Pluto should not be a planet. We have 4 rocky planets and 4 gaseous planets it makes everything nice and even.
Pluto's gone today, what's next. Manbearpig not real?
Boy , thats a name from the past
This is some serious stuff.
Will it affect my pension?
Will it effect my health?
Will it effect my marriage?
Will it effect my taxes.
Well then who gives a red rats ass what these super brains decide?
Is Uranus in danger, too?
Just wait until they go after Uranus!!!
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