NASA just " discovered " new planets ?!
2006-08-21 22:26:15 · 7 answers · asked by kpatel58 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
It's not NASA. Rather, the IAU (International Astronomical Union) is attempting to define the word planet, as it currently has no scientific definition. The draft definition includes as planets several already known bodies that are not already considered planets. Ceres is an asteroid. Charon is considered the moon of Pluto. 2003 UB313, code named "Xena" is a body in the Kuiper belt. So they have not only just been discovered. In the case of the moon, it is moving away from the Earth, and eventually it and the Earth will orbit a common point outside of both bodies, as is already the case with Pluto and Charon.
2006-08-22 03:46:58 · answer #1 · answered by DavidK93 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are about 40 newly discovered objects that would fit the old notion of a planet. THAT is why pluto has been denounced to "dwarf" planet. NASA is not involved in discovering new planets, it is astrophysicists and astronomers doing independent research that usually find such objects. The kuiper belt has many such objects as large as or larger than pluto. Pluto is just another one of those many objects!
Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn were all known to the ancients and can be seen in the night sky most of the time. Mercury is usually obscured by the sun, and Uranus and Neptune although not visible to the naked eye, are much larger then the four inner "rocky" planets, so together with Earth there are eight planets! Even though there are currently about 40 known objects of the size of Ceres and Pluto, many more likely exist that have just not been discovered yet.
2006-08-29 19:02:16 · answer #2 · answered by TrickMeNicely 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think even NASA knows what it is doing. I can't believe they allowed about 5 or so scientist to decide if Pluto was a *planet* or not......after all of these years. Now they think there is another planet out there. BRING PLUTO BACK!! (lights a memorial candle*
2006-08-27 22:21:27 · answer #3 · answered by jzhcats 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a "planet" is a body in space that fits a definition by the IAU (international astromomical union, i think). pluto was recently classified as a dwarf planet instead of a planet. it is smaller than some asteroids.
2006-08-26 06:57:48 · answer #4 · answered by perkijer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ming: Klytus, I'm bored. What play thing can you offer me today?
Klytus: An obscure body in the S-K System, your majesty. The inhabitants refer to it as the planet Earth
Ming: I like to play with things while... before annihilation
Ming: Pathetic Earthlings - who can save you now?
Flash, a-ah, saviour of the universe
Agent: Strange object imaged in the Imperial Vortex.
Flash, a-ah, you saved every one of us
Ming: Remove the Earth woman. Prepare her for our pleasure
Flash, a-ah
Aura: Don't kill him yet, father. I want him
He's a miracle
Dale: Go Flash, go
2006-08-25 14:40:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah I was reading that too. They said our moon could eventually become its own planet.
2006-08-22 05:32:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who cares?
2006-08-22 05:55:56 · answer #7 · answered by Julian 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋