To heck with all those fancy schmancy scientists with their PHD's. THEY call it a "dwarf planet," I say we leave it in the solar system as a planet. Who's with me? We'll use their own classification against them.
2006-08-29 02:29:24 · 25 answers · asked by smutulator 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
the international astronomical union defined three terms "planet", "dwarf planet", and "small solar system body". this does not change anything about the solar system or pluto. it just corrects the mistake of classifying pluto as a planet initially. i have known since i was about twelve that pluto did not have the physical and orbital characteristics of the major bodies in the solar system. later, after the discovery of hundreds of similar bodies in similar orbits, i knew this was inevitable. i feel somewhat satisfied. this was the right thing to do, believe me. i don't understand why so many are having such a problem with this.
(1) A planet is 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 neighborhood around its orbit.
(2) A dwarf planet is 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, (c) has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit, and (d) is not a satellite.
(3) All other objects orbiting the Sun shall be referred to collectively as "Small Solar System Bodies".
because pluto orbits the sun, is round, does not have an isolated orbit (a bunch of other similar bodies have similar orbits), and is not a satellite it is a dwarf planet.
look here:
http://www.iau2006.org/mirror/www.iau.org/iau0603/index.html
2006-08-29 09:05:46 · answer #1 · answered by warm soapy water 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's up to you to call them planet or dwarf planet, as we're right now is in the transition time, you may still call them a planet. I'm sure though, perhaps, years from now, you'll call pluto a dwarf planet and forget that it have ever been a planet (well, unless when you're studying about history of astronomy)
I personally thinks that such a change might be benefitful, since if we classify pluto as a planet, then we should also classify Ceres, 2003 UB313 (which is larger than Pluto), and other mini rocks, a planet too. This might make you have to remember like twenty planet names, rather than the already unrememberable nine (or eight)
2006-08-29 11:00:52 · answer #2 · answered by Lie Ryan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the only reason it's no longer a full fledged planet any more is to save us from getting dozens of new planets that are celestial bodies in the same area and about the same size - some even a little bigger. Some guy discovered something bigger than Pluto and wants to call it Planet Xena! That's right, after the Lucy Lawless show! I'm still going to consider it a planet because that's what I learned it school - but it's better than having planet Xena!
2006-08-29 09:51:15 · answer #3 · answered by Alexis 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To tell you the truth I believe that since Pluto is so far away and there has been one too many failed attempts to Mars, scientist are giving up on their plans to search and colonize the planet.
Did you know that in 200 there was a debate that since very little is known about the far away planet, that it is possible that Pluto may be the largest of all the planets.
However, if was never prooven, because to explore Pluto it would cost way too much money.
2006-08-29 11:35:23 · answer #4 · answered by starchildx31 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At one time the earth was flat and the center of the universe. It was hard to let these 'facts' go especially being the center of the universe.
You may never accept the fact the we have 8 planets, but you grand children will.
Right now we have lots of sentimental attachment to our beloved Pluto. This great and shocking loss only happened a week ago we are all in mourning, but the sooner we get over it the sooner we can all move on.
2006-09-02 19:18:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
astronomer dont give a rat's as* on what we civilians have to say, but put aside my sentimentality and my love for planet pluto, i think Pluto was a mistake from the start, but the new definition is a piece of crap, the thing with clesaring the neighborhood messed up the definition. how do we know what they mena by clear the neighborhood, i mean there are asteroids nears almost every planet, so they didn't clear the neighborhood?
2006-08-29 11:39:17 · answer #6 · answered by Man 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I still say it is a Twin Planet, as both Pluto and Charon actually spin around each other.
And dwarf planet Xena is its accepted name, and guess what? It has a satellite as well called...
(wait for it)
Gabrielle!!! No, really!!!
2006-08-29 09:59:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you, it is what it is... A PLANET. Here is another example of our species placing more labels on things. WE NEED FEWER LABELS NOT MORE! Humans have an innate sense of classifying everything, making it more complex than it needs to be. Pluto is the 9th planet in our solar system, and in my book nothing is going to change that.
2006-08-29 14:06:09 · answer #8 · answered by lilfireyballofhate 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well if a dwarf tree is still a tree and a dwarf person is still a person, then a dwarf planet is still a planet, right?
2006-08-29 09:37:06 · answer #9 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I will still call it a planet. We have grown with it and it is very difficult now to accept tht it is not a part of our solar system.
2006-08-29 09:32:55 · answer #10 · answered by A 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋