I know Pluto has been declasified to a dwarf planet.
But in schools I see they are still teaching nine plants in the solar system plus planet "X".
Whats the story, the name of plant "X" and what should we be teaching in our schools on ths subject.?
Thank you for your input
2007-10-21 21:26:54 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The debate of what is a planet and what isn't has I guess been finally defined. As of right now, we have 8 planets, and several draft-planets. I can't remember is Ceres (An asteroid in the asteroid belt) is considered a minor-planet. Pluto is now considered a "minor" planet.
I believe what you are thinking about is Eris. It was "discovered" a few years ago, but wasn't named until last year, prior to that, it was known as Xena. I remember having an argument with my professor about whether it should be called a planet. He suggested yes, I said no. Of course he was basing this on the fact that Pluto was still a planet.
Eris is about 3000 km wide, and has a very oval obit. At times it is closer to the sun than pluto, for about 1/8th of it's orbit, the other 7/8th of it's orbit, it's further than Pluto, at times, almost twice the distance!
However, the keiper belt, the area past Pluto, contains many reminants from the Solar System formation and there are many objects there that "could" be considered psudeo-planets. I believe there is an object, further away than Eris that is 1500 km wide. There are also a countless number of "rocks" that are several kilometers wide that become comets as they come closer to the sun.
Edit: There are two other Keiper Belt objects that might interest you. 2003 EL61 and 2005 FY9 all about 3/4 the size of Pluto, and have similar orbits. Proper names haven't been given yet. But I am certain the one you are thinking about is Eris.
2007-10-21 21:36:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, we have only 8 planets in our solar system, plus three dwarf planets, but no way do they add up to 10. What schools are teaching that we have 10 planets? None that I know of.
2007-10-22 09:39:47 · answer #2 · answered by GeoffG 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Schools should teach 8 planets, and some dwarf planets such as Pluto. No doubt more dwarfs will be discovered but it would seem unlikely and more main planets will now be with the new definitions.
Loads of web sites are upto date on this so that would be useful teaching material.
2007-10-22 04:45:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Eris, formerly 2003 UB313, is the largest known dwarf planet in the solar system and the ninth largest body orbiting the Sun directly. It is between 2,400 and 3,000 kilometres in diameter and 27% more massive than Pluto.
2007-10-22 04:32:04 · answer #4 · answered by ideaquest 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Persephone is the name.
Pluto was discovered in 1928. At the time, they were looking for another planet which would explain perturbations in the orbits of the giant plants.
Well, there it was. Only problem is, Pluto is small. REALLY small. Far to small to account for those perturbations. Consequently, the search has continued for a planet to explain those perturbations.
Incidently, Pluto was the 9th planet back in the 1950s, but it was the 8th planet from the sun by the time it was stripped of the title planet. It has a highly eccentric orbit - which is one of the reasons they decided to stop calling it a planet.
I guess you could call it a Rodney Dangerfield planet. It just don't get no respect....
2007-10-22 04:34:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
There are lots of planets. We should only be describing 8 planets plus several lesser objects Pluto, Ceres and Eris. Then if you get out as far as the Oort cloud (?) there are trillions.
2007-10-22 04:31:48 · answer #6 · answered by Johnny 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
the name of planet x is Xena, the scientist who discovered it decided the solar system needed another female named planet. The object is in the kuiper belt, and is about 25% bigger than the now defunct ninth planet "pluto"
2007-10-22 12:26:52 · answer #7 · answered by lee s 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes pluto has been downgraded, and another,
larger, kuiper belt object found.
I don't know when the schools will catch up.
2007-10-22 04:54:36 · answer #8 · answered by Irv S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I guess the name of the planet will depend on the characteristics of the planet itself & the person who discover it....If it were me who discovered it, I'll name it
1. Mikeylocous....(a tribute to poor Mickey Mouse's dog Pluto who was declassified)....if it is a big Planet
2. Mikeylici ,,,(if it's a small planet)
2007-10-22 05:01:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
According to school curricular there are only nine,you just may become a famous mad scientist if you can prove your theory a fact.
2007-10-22 12:50:23 · answer #10 · answered by yp_will_chicago_369 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋