I know this question has probably been asked a thousand times already and its probably old news... but does anyone else feel outraged (don't know if thats the right word to use!) that pluto is no longer a planet. I can't see how after years and years of saying its a planet and teaching everyone that its a planet and documenting it as a planet someone can just turn arouns and say no it's not a planet anymore!!!
2006-09-20 15:22:19 · 27 answers · asked by Jennifer 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
We haven't even made it to Mars yet. (and some say we never really made it to the moon) Let's worry about one planet at a time. It's still going to be called Pluto or the "minor planet formerly known as Pluto" for another hundred years. I know I'm still going to say Pluto. No geek scientist can take that away from me.
Don't let it keep you up at night.
2006-09-20 15:31:56 · answer #1 · answered by shogun_316 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We have been calling Pluto the ninth PLANET of the solar system since its discovery in 1936. If we are going to set a size for the standard for calling something a planet, then let the size of Pluto be that standard.
Pluto may have a funny shaped orbit, it might cross inside Neptune's orbit and temporarily become the 8th planet from the sun, but this is no reason to de categorise it as a planet.
If those that be want to take a planet's peculiar orbit to decide whether or not to call it a planet, maybe we ought to consider Venus! Venus is the only planet to revolve in the opposite direction to what the others 8 planets do (8 planets revolve anti-clockwise Venus revolves clockwise!) All nine planets orbit the sun in the same direction. Come on boffins of space give us our 9th PLANET back!
2006-09-20 16:48:00 · answer #2 · answered by tunisianboy46 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Get over it. All this stuff about Pluto is because people are upset that overnight they know one less planet than they used to... It may feel like you lost an important percentage of your astronomy knowledge due to no fault of yours but so what? Take an Astronomy book and read about the stars and the solar system if you care that much about the heavenly bodies. You will see two things, first there is a lot to learn about the solar system apart from the names of the planets, and second Pluto is really nothing like any other planet.
2006-09-20 15:42:01 · answer #3 · answered by firat c 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well I can understand the outrage, After all, memorizing "My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizza's" was all I remember about elementry science. But you have to put into account the amount of advances in technology over the last 15 years. Now we were able to get a better idea of what Pluto really is. It always seemed to me, a glorified far away version of our moon. But who knows, maybe 15 years from now they will see it again as a planet. As for now, I am changing the little saying to "My Very Evil Mother Just Served Us Nothing"
2006-09-20 21:16:46 · answer #4 · answered by camero_angel 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ya it's true that it feels bad to kick off Pluto from the planet community, but science is not about what we feel.
Science is dyanamic and always open to scrutiny. Theories are proposed and verified and verified till it clears out all tests. Even after verification, it can be replaced with a better theory, ofcourse, if one can found.
Pluto, Xena etc, are thousands of objects in Kuiper belt which revolve around Sun, and it's not possible at all, to categorize all of them as planets. So Pluto, Xena etc. are included in dwarf planets giving a new defination for planets and dwarf planets.
2006-09-20 18:58:02 · answer #5 · answered by topofdtop 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They had to reclassify it, or there'd be 20 or 30 more planets in a few years. They are finding that there are 100's of objects outside of Neptune's orbit, some smaller than Pluto, some larger that Pluto.
There has always been some debate about Pluto in it's major planet status. It's orbit is a different shape and it's on a different plane than the rest of our system. (I learned this in school too)
It's still out there, people need to chill out. Open your brains, learn more about our solar system.
2006-09-20 17:52:45 · answer #6 · answered by biggie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It took 2,500 scientists in around 75 countries to kill a concept - an innocent and useful dream. Yes, that is what it is, a precious concept and an innocent dream, a distance planet, the outer most, struggling to blend in, to be like others; to be a part of the family of planets.
I agree with many people who do not agree with what some scietists have decided about Pluto. I can see a perfectly solid logical point against that decision, and I protest. Pluto has charmed our fancies and imagination right from when most of us were children. In fact, the worth of all astronomical objects that are in common knowledge is not only determined by the scientific facts but they also have aesthetic and emotional value attached to them. They make our dreams and fantasies. Many of us consider heavens to be sacred and make the Sun, the Moon and star a part of their religious contemplation, if I do not go too far in this.
I liked Pluto from the day I learnt about it at school. And now, I feel as if a tiny bit of my childhood has been relegated. First the fanciful Moon was trampled and now this. How can they do this? And what are they going to do next? Is this yet another show of bestial narrow mindedness by us humans in the name of scientific realism that is against our fancies and dreams? Oh yes! It took 2,500 scientists in around 75 countries to kill an innocent and useful concept - a dream. Yes, that is what it is, a precious concept, a distance planet, the outer most struggling to blend in, to be like others, and to be part of the family of planets.
However small but Pluto is important and perhaps is the most significant planet now. For many years Pluto has illuminated the minds of our children like a little candle with the light of wonder and amazement. They can call our dear Pluto to be a dwarf but can they take away the history attached to it in our minds - the history that is both fantastic and now tragic? This decision has been made on the basis of heartless factual consideration. We therefore should have called for a revote. And yes, this question has been asked thousands of times before, ever so stronger the reason to ask again.
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiqJss4WJFj2I46soV6O258gBgx.?qid=20060825034729AAyvU0p
2006-09-20 23:34:32 · answer #7 · answered by Shahid 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think it is a moon that lost orbit from a planet they have found past pluto but untill they can find proper evidence it should of stayed a planet but it being a dwarf planet is still better than it being a moon of a comet or someting. Mind you im 13
2006-09-20 15:44:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
As if it needed saying, this completely ruins the lame pseudo-science astrology, and more to the point it shafts Scorpios, haha, who are all now left without "their planet" as it were. Oh what a pity.
Still those charlatans the astrologers keep cranking out horoscopes and taking other insecure people's money in exchange for the load of old toot they've been peddling forever.
2006-09-20 20:34:26 · answer #9 · answered by Summer 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Do not care too much, since the human race's judgement has no bearing whatsoever about the destiny ...etc of pluto.
I would not have minded if the thing was left alone actually; I mean does it matter that much to people on the way to classify this body; anyway, heard that the opinions are somewhat devided, so I presume anyone can call it whetever they want.
I say it's planet.
Signed: not an astronomer
2006-09-20 17:08:11 · answer #10 · answered by Yacine B 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋