The IAU members gathered at the 2006 General Assembly agreed that a "planet" is defined as a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.
This means that the Solar System consists of eight "planets" Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. A new distinct class of objects called "dwarf planets" was also decided. It was agreed that "planets" and "dwarf planets" are two distinct classes of objects. The first members of the "dwarf planet" category are Ceres, Pluto and 2003 UB313 (temporary name). More "dwarf planets" are expected to be announced by the IAU in the coming months and years.
http://www.iau2006.org/mirror/www.iau.org/iau0603/index.html
2006-08-24 04:06:59 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
I see the humor in your question.
What's even funnier though is that one of your facts is wrong. The solar system with nine planets is on the Pioneer plaques, but not the Golden record sent on the Voyager probe. Ironically, this is the same error that the Star Trek folks made in the first ST movie.
2006-08-24 13:01:38 · answer #1 · answered by Oz 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not the new definition that will make the old map confusing. Rather, new information shows that the old map would be confusing in and of itself. Aliens viewing our solar system in its entirety would probably see either eight planets and innumerable ice balls (including Pluto), or maybe just four planets, with some rocks (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) orbiting inside of them. In any event, it's unlikely that anyone observing Pluto alongside the rest of the Kuiper Belt (Remember, Pluto was discovered many years before any other Kuiper Belt objects were identified.) would consider it a planet, so the map has just become outdated. The aliens wouldn't have access to our definition of planet until they make formal contact with us. Hopefully, it won't stand as a communications barrier with our new alien overlords.
2006-08-24 04:44:11 · answer #2 · answered by DavidK93 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aliens will almost certainly be a helluva lot smarter than we are, so they'll probably have better information and knowledge of the solar system anyway. We seem to believe that we're such a superior species, when in actuality we're dumb as a box of rocks. We can't even serve as stewards of our own planet; we continue to squander all of Earth's natural resources, fail to preserve and protect the delicate ecological balance between man plants and animals, and live in a disposable society where it's acceptable to waste everything we can. Aliens will have learned the importance of social and cultural connections, will have figured out that war is the biggest waste of all, and will have created advanced technologies that far exceed anything our tiny little brains can comprehend. -RKO-
2006-08-24 04:22:49 · answer #3 · answered by -RKO- 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They might think we meant to indicate Pluto was bigger than it is, but if they can see our Solar System they'll soon figure out we just didn't know what we were talking about when we made the map. Aliens aren't dumb.
2006-08-24 04:12:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nah... everyone misses the first sign that tells how far it is to their destination. That's why there are several signs as you get closer and closer. There's on on Mars that reads, "Last Exit before Earth" - honest! It's right next to that face that the egyptians built...
2006-08-24 04:14:21 · answer #5 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
AShhh You humans amuse and confuse us already...
For general safety your system under general quarantine with
subqausil beacons to mark it for the hitchhikers and vacationers.
Penalty for violating quarantine is permanent exile to your Terra.
(With penalty like that there are few who dare... even if roasted haunch of long pig brings premium prices at the best eateries...
the risk of cultural contamination too great).
2006-08-24 04:17:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Probably will be confused...or hopefully they already know enough about us to understand that this is just another sad case of us Earthlings not knowing as much as we thought we did and changing our minds repeatedly.
2006-08-24 04:13:29 · answer #7 · answered by Okkieneko 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Guess what? Jupiter really isn't a planet either. It emits light. Planets do not.
2006-08-24 04:12:52 · answer #8 · answered by madbaldscotsman 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No. There aren't any aliens nearby, so Voyager will never be found by aliens.
2006-08-24 07:37:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmmmmm? Will they now go to Venus and assume we all died?
2006-08-24 05:01:32 · answer #10 · answered by Ron B. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋