Jupiter outraged at n00bs becoming planets

[Bill3000]

Article

The world's astronomers, under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), have concluded two years of work defining the difference between "planets" and the smaller "solar system bodies" such as comets and asteroids. If the definition is approved by the astronomers gathered 14-25 August 2006 at the IAU General Assembly in Prague, our Solar System will include 12 planets, with more to come: eight classical planets that dominate the system, three planets in a new and growing category of "plutons" - Pluto-like objects - and Ceres. Pluto remains a planet and is the prototype for the new category of "plutons."

The part of "IAU Resolution 5 for GA-XXVI" that describes the planet definition, states "A planet is a celestial body that (a) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (b) is in orbit around a star, and is neither a star nor a satellite of a planet." Member of the Planet Definition Committee, Richard Binzel says: "Our goal was to find a scientific basis for a new definition of planet and we chose gravity as the determining factor. Nature decides whether or not an object is a planet."

Ceres, (The first asteroid discovered, between Mars and Jupiter) Charon (Moon of pluto) and 2003 UB_313 (Currently unnamed and recently discovered Kupiter Belt object, although unoffically named "Xena", although that won't be its offical name) shall all be immediately promoted to planethood. There is a chance that up to 53 planets shall be in our solar system once this definition goes through.

Now you might be a little shocked at why Charon of all objects is going to be promoted to a planet, especially since it seems to violate (b) in the new definition of a planet. The reason why is that Pluto and Charon are a double planet system. A double planet is a system of two planets in which the center of gravity of the two objects are not within the surface of a more massive object - the two planets orbit each other. Technically the Earth orbits its barycenter as well, (another name for the center of gravity) but it is within the surface of the Earth.

This is awesome. More planets!

[Tomi]

And 9 isn't hard enough for some people to memorize...

I think they should just keep the ones they have, maybe let Charon in as a special case, not quite a planet, but the rest is just cluttering our view of the solar system and making all of our science text books completely obsolete.

[Bill3000]

Eh, the importance is not science textbooks. The importance is in how it matters in science, really. While it is tragic that we can no longer have little kids memorize the planets of the solar system, it's more important that there is now a "pluton" category, that the term "double planet" is offically recongized, and that we have an offical well defined term for a planet. These definitions are important for astronomers, not for the populace. Besides, could you have seen the outrage that there would have been if Pluto was demoted?

[WarxePB]

I wouldn't worry about it, because I suspect their vote will be "just keep everything the same".

[DragonBlaze]

Lets just keep the ones we have. What differance will it make that a few rocks floating in space are labeled under a new catagory? The system we have now works just fine, no point in changing something that works.

[I Have a Sandwich]

Adding planets to the universe is like adding a state to the USA. It means that the songs I use to remember them will be unusable!

[drenrin2120]

Well, come on guys, science is progression. I support it. For one, jsut because you're comfortable with a set system doesn't mean it shouldn't be changed when you know that there's a better definition for it, a more precise definition. Isn't that what science is all about? Combining and sharing data to form the most precise definitions and explanations for ... well everything? Even if that means change?

i'm sure it worked find for pilgrims to believe the world was flat and they would eventually just fall off the face of the earth if they went to far. It was like a security blanket, because if the world WAS round... why, that would raise question they wouldn't have an answer for, which would destroy their security blanket.

[I Have a Sandwich]

Dren... the pilgrims were after Columbo... -bus. Anyways, science is about precision, not over complification. Planets/steroids/Meteors. Simple. If this system goes through, we'll have to classify things in the classification. "This is a planet, and this is also a planet by new definition" "But the new one is smaller" "Oh. *Adds more classifications*"

[Meiscool-2]

So long as one of them is named: "Planet Meiscool", I don't mind any of this.

[drenrin2120]

Originally posted by I Have a Sandwich
Dren... the pilgrims were after Columbo... -bus. Anyways, science is about precision, not over complification. Planets/steroids/Meteors. Simple. If this system goes through, we'll have to classify things in the classification. "This is a planet, and this is also a planet by new definition" "But the new one is smaller" "Oh. *Adds more classifications*"

I know that the pilgrims didn't really think the world was flat, it was before that. I was using them as a rough reference. And I know that the comparison is a little out of proportion but it's the same idea.

[Kijuki_Magazaki]

no more sphere thingies as planets? ._.

[I Have a Sandwich]

But what about things like the Borg mothership? What would that be classified as?

[Ace of Spades]

Oh dear, no more "My very excellent mother just served us nine pizzas."

Originally posted by I Have a Sandwich
But what about things like the Borg mothership? What would that be classified as?

Death?

[Kijuki_Magazaki]

Originally posted by Ace of Spades
Oh dear, no more "My very excellent mother just served us nine pizzas."

quote:

Originally posted by I Have a Sandwich But what about things like the Borg mothership? What would that be classified as?

Death?

hey I remember that! those days will no longer be there =

[Razor]

As long as they name them after the staff of Charas, I'd be happy.
Hey look, FFL2and3rocks! is crashing into Earth! We're doomed!

Knowing my luck, Razor would explode or hurtle into deep space, never to be seen again.