Science

Astronomers divided over 'planet' definition

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Aug 22, 2006, 16:55 GMT


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Chris HalAug 22nd, 2006 - 19:17:45

I can't believe the pettiness of some of these scientists/astronomers. I am an amateur astronomer and this embarasses me. Blaming MS because the spell checker didn't define plutons? I just can't believe it. Very disappointing.

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Adam KAug 22nd, 2006 - 19:31:49

The spellchecker comment was a joke... 'quip'

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G A AndersonAug 23rd, 2006 - 01:53:06

We are in big trouble. Scientists who need spell checkers, please. I have a better idea. Let the public vote the planets either in or out like they do on American Idol.
Then there is the naming of these so called planets. Xena? Pluto? Again, they could have a contest to name whatever new planets are voted in. Why imagine the publicity for all of this. Now the person who submits the winning entry would ride in a space shuttle for two weeks. Real exciting.
One question. If they decide the change the roster of planets would this mean I would have to throw out all these books on astrology I paid good money for.

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palm50Aug 23rd, 2006 - 18:25:32

Re: Planet Definitions

Why not define planet as one with gravitational impact?

Or, Pluto was found because in explained motion of other planets.

The newer 'planets' probably have zilch impact since it took so
long to discover them.

And as they must have some force, limit them by setting a threshold.

Or too minor in force to consider....

And call them 'Plantlets'?

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themotieAug 30th, 2006 - 08:27:31

Pluto has NO effect on anything but it's moons. Astronomers looked for a planet beyond Neptune to explain irregularities in Uranus and Neptunes motions, and after a century found Pluto. By accident it turned out. All 'irregularities' in Uranus and Neptunes orbits have been explained by other means, and Pluto is far, far too small to have any effect whatsoever on Neptune, let alone Uranus. So there.

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