I know it is years down the line but what would happen if (GOD FORBID) they take away the planets one by one until they get to Earth and they take Earth too, I am seriously concerned because the newspaper said that the astronomers had a meeting and they went along with all of this.
2006-08-25 15:56:40 · 18 answers · asked by SlapADog 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The issue was that there have been rules to follow in order to be considered a planet. Pluto obviously did not meet them. This guy in California found at least 3 other "things" with the same characteristics as pluto, and it was either consider those as planets too or take pluto out. Now they are called "dwarf planets." Ridiculous huh?
2006-08-25 16:00:53 · answer #1 · answered by Maria 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Don't forget that these people (astronomers) are the same people who gave us Pluto in the first place (and Neptune and Uranus). We wouldn't even know about them if it wasn't for astronomers.
All they've done is cleaned up their classification of what a planet is. They haven't "taken anything away." It's a name, a category, nothing more.
The reason they did it was because they keep finding other objects in Pluto's orbital neighborhood that are awfully similar (such as Pluto's moon Charon, and the new object, nicknamed Xena, that is actually larger than Pluto). There are also asteroids in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter that are almost as large as Pluto.
So if we kept Pluto, we would have to add at least 3 more "planets" (for a total of at least 12), and probably a few dozen more, and we would have up to 53 planets! And the number would keep growing as we keep discovering new objects.
So they created a new category, "dwarf planet" for these things too big to be an asteroid, but too small to be considered a stand-alone planet.
Neptune is safe because it is *enormous*. (It is the third most massive planet after Jupiter and Saturn.) Uranus is also safe because it is just about the same size (a little larger in diameter, but not quite as massive).
2006-08-26 02:10:55 · answer #2 · answered by secretsauce 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, you might have a point. Part of the reason that Pluto isn't considered a planet by the new definition is that it hasn't "cleared the neighbourhood". In its case, since it crosses the orbit of Neptune, it hasn't cleared its orbit of other material. However, a simple change in reference indicates that Neptune crosses Pluto's orbit, hence it hasn't cleared its neighbourhood. Therefore, Neptune is not a planet!
Interestingly enough, with the presence of near-earth asteroids and of the Trojan asteroids in the same orbit of Jupiter, neither Earth nor Jupiter clears their neighbourhood. Thus Earth and Jupiter are not planets either! The only question is, "What's next?" :-)
2006-08-25 23:37:58 · answer #3 · answered by Ѕємι~Мαđ ŠçїєŋŧιѕТ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neptune won't be next, they want Jupiter! If they can take that away, they're set. Then they will prove that the Earth is not a planet, then that we are not humans because humans live on the Earth. Soon we will be sold into slavery to bacteria on Mars and forced to wear white after labor day!
2006-08-25 23:05:48 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have to think that Pluto was not even big enough to be considerd a planet in the first place. Every planet in the Solar System has to have enough of a gravity pull around it to be able to pull little stellar objects in to the surface. Pluto didn't have enough of a pull to do this and little objects were just circling around it. It doens't way enough either.
2006-08-25 23:19:46 · answer #5 · answered by Lighting Bolt 7 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pluto was taken away because of its abnormal rotation and ability to be affected by non-planets. Pluto was an exeption.
What would happen if they took them all away? It would make no difference, the term planet would not exist and everything would be terresterial objects.
2006-08-25 23:52:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it wont happen, because neptune IS a planet. It has a regular orbit around the sun. and it is a round shape like the other planets. and then there were 8!
2006-08-25 23:02:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
y would they take neptune? they only took pluto away cuz they think its smaller than an asteroid and weighs less than the regular planet should so its not considered a planet any more i doubt theyll take away neptune
2006-08-25 23:00:09 · answer #8 · answered by Leo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's round, it orbits the sun, it has natural satellites....It's a PLANET!!
Pluto will make a great comeback in 2009 when the next IAU conference is held in Rio. "The Return of the...Pluto".
2006-08-25 23:54:01 · answer #9 · answered by bonee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What have you been smoking ? I know you have'nt read anything. Pluto got the axe only because of her size ! Do you even have any idea how big Neptune is ?
2006-08-25 23:26:06 · answer #10 · answered by Kaori 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋