lawrocket 3 #1 August 16, 2006 So they are gonna make an asteroid a planet? They are gonna take a planet and call it and its moon a pluton - but consider it a planet? And they're gonna take a distant planet and call it a planet? There will be a vote next week in Prague at the International Astronomical Union meeting to change/create a definition of a planet. http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20060816/sc_space/nineplanetsbecome12withcontroversialnewdefinition I mean, we've gotten by just fine calling planets "planets" and moons "moons" and asteroids "asteroids." It's not that I'm bigoted against Ceres, but if it is a planet then it's the Diet COke of Planets - just 587 miles, not quite planet enough. Just let us decide if something is a planet without a rule that makes every round thing out there a planet. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lindercles 0 #2 August 16, 2006 The problem with the word "planet" is that it is poorly defined. Astronomers don't seem to be able to agree on what fundamental characteristic makes a planet a planet. There is a similar debate raging right now about whether Pluto is a planet either, and if fact the American Museum of Natural History in New York does not include Pluto in its planetarium. By one definition there are only 8 planets, by another there are 10, and by yet another there are 30 or more. We are in a relatively tumultuous period in the astronomy world. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rasmack 0 #3 August 16, 2006 Think of all the astrological charts that will have to be redone... HF #682, Team Dirty Sanchez #227 “I simply hate, detest, loathe, despise, and abhor redundancy.” - Not quite Oscar Wilde... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #4 August 16, 2006 Hey, we've got a whole asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Are they planets as well now? Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lindercles 0 #5 August 16, 2006 QuoteHey, we've got a whole asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Are they planets as well now? One of the definitions of "planet" being thrown around right now is that it is an object who's gravitational force is greater than the forces binding the materials it's made of. Which is a fancy way of saying it's round. That would successfully exclude asterdoids, but would still include many other celestial objects. Edited to add: there is a whole other belt at the edges of our solar system called the Kuiper Belt, which is a relatively new discovery. Part of the reason the debate over Pluto started is the discovery of the fact that Pluto is only one of many objects in the Kuiper Belt. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stitch 0 #6 August 16, 2006 Will this include "Planet Hollywood"."No cookies for you"- GFD "I don't think I like the sound of that" ~ MB65 Don't be a "Racer Hater" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #7 August 16, 2006 QuoteHey, we've got a whole asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Are they planets as well now? Well, one of them will be... My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #8 August 16, 2006 oh cool, didn't realize that Ceres was in the asteroid belt. hmmm, I wonder if they have any decent restaurants there? Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kmcguffee 0 #9 August 16, 2006 Quote So they are gonna make an asteroid a planet? They are gonna take a planet and call it and its moon a pluton - but consider it a planet? And they're gonna take a distant planet and call it a planet? Are the bumblings of a bunch of eggheads really bothering you or are you just bored? It really doesn't matter what we call it. They'll still be what they are. "Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grue 1 #10 August 16, 2006 UB313 eh? o/` RED RED MOOOOOOOON.... STAY CLOSE TO MEEEEEE o/`cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #11 August 17, 2006 i find the idea of a lawyer getting bent out of shape () because a poorly defined term is being redebated incredibly humorous.. create a clear definition, and label everything based on it... what is so difficult about that?____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,038 #12 August 17, 2006 Quote I mean, we've gotten by just fine calling planets "planets" and moons "moons" and asteroids "asteroids." It's not that I'm bigoted against Ceres, but if it is a planet then it's the Diet COke of Planets - just 587 miles, not quite planet enough. Just let us decide if something is a planet without a rule that makes every round thing out there a planet. Yeah, but Ceres fits the Titius- Bode Law for planetary orbits.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
