Explain the origins of the names of the 3 newly named ones.
2006-08-16 00:31:04 · 5 answers · asked by WendyD1999 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
dasher, dancer, prancer, comet, cupid, donner................wait these aren't planets.
2006-08-17 14:47:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It hasn't happened just yet.
The first is actually a very large asteriod named Ceres. it used to be a planet in the 1800's, but was demoted soon after.
The second is actually Plutos moon Charon. I don't get this one. How can a moon become a planet in the main line of planets. Jupiter, Saturn, & Neptune have larger moons than Pluto. That confuses me.
The third is 2003 UB313, or Xena. the farthest known object within our Solar System.
2006-08-16 08:15:05 · answer #2 · answered by Ron B. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ceres used to be classified as an asteroid. It lies between Mars and Jupiter.
Charon used to be the moon of Pluto. It is now a twin of Pluto because Pluto and Charon orbit around a point in the centre of the two.
2003 UB313 is a planet that was discovered in 2003, and it is larger than Pluto. But because of arguments about Pluto and what exactly a planet it is, it has only been named as a planet today.
I have a question on the subject myself in Answers. For more info go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4795755.stm
2006-08-16 08:04:48 · answer #3 · answered by True_Brit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The 12 planets in our solar system listed in order of their proximity to the sun would be Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Ceres, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Charon, and the provisionally named 2003 UB313.
2006-08-16 09:17:12 · answer #4 · answered by mods_3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're a little ahead of yourself- they haven't been declared planets yet!! Astronomers from around the world are meeting in Prague next week to decide the definition of a planet. If they decide to change it this could mean the reinstatement/rearmament of Pluto as the ninth planet, Pluto's largest moon Charon would become a planet, 2003(yr it was found) UB313(catalogue number) "XENA"(warrior princess ;-) would also become one, and the known asteroid Ceres(Roman goddess of grain).
2006-08-16 07:39:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋