[Forgiven_Sinner]

I just read "Beyond this Horizon" by Robert Heinlein. In it, he names the 10th planet "Persephone", which is a far better name than Quaoar. I hope that name gets overruled, although the discover of a planet has some input to the naming process.

Quaoar violates the mythological convention that has been used for over 2500 years.

Is it a planet? Yes, although you could argue for it being a large asteroid.

[TheLurkerX]

God forbid you'd name it Nemesis, like the Death Star theory back in the 80's dubbed it.

[The_Victor]

Is it a planet? Yes, although you could argue for it being a large asteroid.

The problem is that the definition of planet/asteriod is not an absolute. It's like the boat/ship definition. A boat is anything that can fit on a ship. Yet the nuclear missile subs are still called boats (probably a hold-over from the days when subs could fit onboard a ship). If astonomers want to end this mess, they simply need to define in absolute terms (mass and orbit) what a planet is.

[steve-b]

Quaoar violates the mythological convention that has been used for over 2500 years.

The asteroids have long since exhausted, not only Graeco-Roman mythologies, but those every other major civilization. A local tribal god is probably the best alternative that isn't already taken.

[PoisedWoman]

Quaoar. I hope that name gets overruled,

Yes, it's a stupid, unpronounceable PC name, indicating, it would seem, that the discoverers don't think it's a planet...it's almost as if they are trying to dissuade discussion by giving it a name only an aborigine could love.

[conejo99]

I believe Larry Niven's "Protector" novel named it "Persephone" also.