Pluto is a planet dammit!?

Question

For my entire life, and probably yours as well, Pluto has been considered a planet. Now a bunch of men in wigs and white robes appointed themselves to define what is meant by the word "planet", and failed to consider history in the process.

Will you join me in the revolt to continue to call Pluto a planet regardless in spite of what these self appointed authorities of language have decided?

How sad that so many think that only astronomers should have a role in such a definition. There ARE other branches of science you know - like sociology and psychology for example. The definition of "planet" is arbitary anyway. It could just as easily have included "all historical planets plus in the future...". They didn't have to be pedantic ***** about it.

Answer 1

Yeah i'll join.... PLUTOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

p.s. I don't that they were wearing white wigs and white robes though!

Answer 2

It have been known for decades that at some point Plutos position of a planet would be in Jeopardy. It was going to happen when another Pluto size object was found in the Kuiper belt. Pluto is a Trans-Neptunian object (TNO) in the Kupier Belt. For years astronomers have known this, it has just kept planethood because no others were known. Yet we all knew that it was just a matter of time. So Pluto is has it has been known by professional and amateur astronomers for years a TNO.

Pluto is different then other planets in quite a few ways. First Pluto is on in inclination to the planetary plane. That is high compared to the “real” planets. The other 8 planets lie on roughly a plane as you compare their orbits around the sun. Pluto is inclined on this plane by about 15 degrees. Pluto also have a very eccentric orbit, it is such an ellipse that it is closer to the sun for a short period of it orbit (this is many years) then Neptune it this is the reason why it’s a “trans-Neptunian “ object and not just a Kuiper belt object. Also Pluto is very small, when compared to all other planets then Mercury. Had Pluto been found to be a planet on size alone the argument might have been made that our own moon “Luna” is also a planet as the moon orbit’s the sun and not the earth, we only put a small scallop in it’s orbit so that at some points it’s closer the to the sun then the Earth and at other points it farther. Because of Plutos Size, orbit outside the planetary plane, and eccentric orbit Pluto has always been an “odd ball” planet. If Pluto had been found to be a planet along with all the other several hundred predicted objects yet to be found similar to Pluto, we would probably have to make a sub group of planets that describe the first 8 as they do have additional charticersiats that make the similar, that other Kuiper belt and Trans-Neptunian objects don’t have.

I have always thought the professional astronomers who wanted Pluto and other Trans-Neptunian objects to be classified as plants all had a desire or at least the opportunity to discover a new planet. As defined now the chances of a new planets being discovered are very remote

Answer 3

Well, I understand the point but the astronomer issue is more one of definition and classification of future discoveries. We need a definition of planet that is consistent. The dilemma is that most reasonable definitions either exclude Pluto or bring in 100s of others.

Keep in mind when Pluto was named a planet it was probably a mistake. Its properties weren't really known. Had scientists known about the 100s of other pluto-like bodies I doubt they would've called Pluto a planet inthe first place. So in other words, the history dictates it was a mistake, and therefore I think we should correct it.

However, I disagree with nomeclature "dwarf planet" is not a "planet" - that's just bound to confuse.

Answer 4

I gladly would- I think it's very arrogant for a group of so called astronomers to decide for the world what Pluto should be called- why not let the world decide? Pluto stands alone in its orbit and even has 3 moons. It may technically be a Kuiper belt object- but for history's sake- leave Pluto alone! Any further objects can be called whatever-Kuiper Belt Objects, Trans-Plutonian objects or what the h**l ever. I would think there are much larger problems in the world for these "great minds" to tackle!

Answer 5

I just don't understand how a small group of so called experts can just take and wipe out all our history, all learning, and tests, and study, study, study...That we all have had to do over our lifetime. And then in an instant, they take it away! I don't know about you, but after hearing that news today, I feel totally lost. There's some things in life, no matter what's going on around you, you can defiantly count on. Pluto was one of those things. Now it makes me stop and wonder?...Is my Mom my mom? Is my Dad my dad? Is this Earth we live on? Is IT a planet? Just like I heard a little girl this morning on 'Good Morning America', I believe she was in the 5th grade, said "If it's true, think about all the text books that will have to be thrown out, because they will be wrong" ! Gives you something to think about. As far as your quest to keep Pluto with us as a planet...I'm with you 100%. Good Luck...

Answer 6

I could not!!! Simply because the fun have been going on and done.

But for your sake, I say the Pluto you'd like to imply is the Pluto I have known since childhood and had been overshadowed by Pluto the great of Walt Disney.

Pluto isn't Pluto if one could indicate the 'Pluto the planet' from 'Pluto the great, the idol, the best friend, the one!' :o)

Answer 7

Nope, sorry, I won't join you. Besides, there are plenty of young, female astronomers (myself included) who agree that Pluto should never have been called a planet in the first place.

Oh, and science is fluid - things like definitions must change as we discover new things.

Answer 8

I'm pretty much neutral on this subject, but if you were to move pluto closer to the sun, it would get a tail like a comet... that doesn't seem like the normal concept of a "planet"... just an obseration... I really couldn't care less if they call it a planet, and ice burg, or a giant alien cat... it's billions of miles away and has no effect (that I'm aware of) on my life.

Answer 9

dude, pluto totally IS a planet!! just b/c it's the smallest one and the last in line, doesn't mean it's gotta be given the boot! we just can't get out that far to figure out exactly what's going on with pluto yet, but we'll get there someday. AND WHEN WE DO, they will see that pluto is a planet, not a moon or whatev, and it will be PAYBACK TIME!

Answer 10

As long as the definition is precise, im cool with whatever
Not like im gonna hurt the planets feelings

Answer 11

wow a bunch of idiots who barely have GED's revolt against the some of the most brilliant minds of our time because they are ignorant. it's happened before and worked sounds like a plan :]