The new definition of a planet has demoted Pluto to a lower status. However, it has promoted some previous non-planets into planetary status. Is this fair on Pluto who previously had full planetary status?
2006-08-15 22:55:52 · 13 answers · asked by James 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
I want to keep Pluto a planet. That said, I'm sure there are people who once said, 'I miss the days when we thought the earth was flat,' or 'Remember when we thought the sun revolved around the earth? That was better.'
They're voting on it on August 24. I think this is rather significant, and more interesting than the world news, which is a nightmarish mess. I guess we're lucky that these days astronomers hold colloquia to decide these ticklish questions as our awareness of the solar system grows. Back in the good old days, they would put you under house arrest. But it really does shake up one's established perception of the universe.
The new lineup in the solar system is potentially:
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Ceres, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Charon, and Xena (the provisional name for 2003 UB313)
Someone come up with a sentence:
MVEMCJSUNPCX
I don't know what unnerves me more, the fact that Ceres has been added between Mars and Jupiter or that they want to get rid of Pluto, or that they want to add Charon, or 2003UB313, nicknamed Xena by the guy who discovered it. They don't like Xena, and will probably change it to something stupid. If there are another 20-30 planets beyond that, I think they should hold a massive internet public vote to name them.
2006-08-16 03:28:11 · answer #1 · answered by Katrine 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is. Pluto is not a person who will be insulted by this, it is just a chunk of icy dust. I agree that it should not be a planet. I don't know about the other decisions.
I did read that they were proposing 'Plutino' for the whole bunch of objects that accompany Pluto. They seem to be from the break up of a large asteroid or comet. Pluto is just one of the fragments.
From Space.com:
The object, 2000 EB173, was found in March using data collected by a 39-inch (1-meter) telescope at the CIDA Observatory in Venezuela. The space rock is estimated at about one-quarter the size of Pluto and joins a club of more than 300 other "trans-Neptunian objects," small bodies that orbit the Sun beyond Neptune.
;-D I don't want to have to learn the names of 300 little ice balls. Let's just call them 'Plutinos' and hope they never come our way!
2006-08-15 23:26:32 · answer #2 · answered by China Jon 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
By present reckoning of the proceedings at the present IAU conference it's likely to remain in the Premiership of planets. If Charon get's promoted to planet status that's actually quite reasonable because Charon does not actually orbit Pluto. It is almost equal in size to Pluto and has similar characteristics. Pluto and Charon both rotate around a central point of gravity between them.
2006-08-16 20:16:38 · answer #3 · answered by philturner66 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure.
Pluto has Caronte as a moon with almost same size.
Pluto is out of standard. Its inclination regarding the allingment of other planets of our solar system is really odd.
Pluto is made by rocks and not gas like later giants.
Pluto does not belongs to our solar system, not as a original planet, but a Immigrant with stolen passaport.
2006-08-15 23:43:24 · answer #4 · answered by carlos_frohlich 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that it is fair. You gave it the title of being a planet and made everyone recognize it as a planet then let it be a planet. What harm will it do if they change it? Will the human race be thrown into chaos? NO so just leave it as a planet.
2006-08-15 23:53:59 · answer #5 · answered by black diamond 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that if UB313 is promoted as a planet then pluto should remain as is... if not, it should be demoted.
2006-08-15 23:01:42 · answer #6 · answered by afbb12 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i heard this too i dont believe its fair pluto has been regarded as a planet for so long but then again scientifically it was never really a planet
2006-08-15 23:00:24 · answer #7 · answered by mister_pellow 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pluto has never been a real planet,i`m glad that someone has brought justice to the solar system at last,LOL!!!!
2006-08-15 23:02:42 · answer #8 · answered by mamanoelia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, lets make it
My
Very
Excellent
Mother
Just
Sent
Us
Nine
Pies...
With
Some
Stuff
On
Them
To
Represent
A
Bunch
Of
Little
Rocks
In
Space
Floating
Around
In
A
Large
Radius
Orbit
Around
The
Sun
That
Man
For
Some
Stupid
Reason
Decided
To
Classify
As
Planets
Maybe
They
Did
It
Just
To
Make
Life
Harder
For
All
The
Little
Children
Trying
To
Memorize
Them
2006-08-15 23:35:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
What's in a name? So long as Walt Disney Studios don't rename the dog as a consequence, I will not lose any sleep over it.
2006-08-15 23:02:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋