Hail Pluto, well met

[claerwen]

Its always nice when reason triumphs over the irrational, yet popular, sentiment.<br /><br />It happens too infrequently these days.<br /><br />

 

[Philotas]

Haha, Pluto is no longer a planet. Agroup of Taxonomers just sat down and figured it out, LOL. So long for a sensible planet definition. Defining whether anything else than gas planets are planets in other solarsystems is now impossible. Huzzah. What a great day for <i>science</i>. Wait wait...what on Earth has this definition got to do with science? Nothing! A cleaned neighbourhood?? Just like who cares. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[spayss]

Much ado about nothing. None of the physical properties of any of these objects changes because the word changes. <br /><br />How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

 

[ittiz]

from my blog: <br /><br />The problem is this definition is even more ambiguous than the first. I don’t find it scientific either. Using phrases “like cleared the area.” This means we will no doubt find objects as large as Mars that aren’t planets around other stars. I think (and have always suspected) that they just wanted to keep planets “sentimental.” They just didn’t like the idea that the number of planets in the solar system could be double or even triple digit numbers. I guess sentimentality won over scientific reason today.<br /><br />The first definition was clear and concise. This one uses some pretty vague phrases that leave a lot of room for “artistic” interpretation. It’s like having the definition for a runner-up to be: “The person who almost won.” Vague at best.

 

[ladyleviticus]

Hi! <br /><br />Why should Pluto be demoted? its been a planet since 1930? Why reck a historic piece of knowledge? <br /><br />I'm a very big Space Exploration fan, and I am totally against Pluto been demoted. Why? do you ask? Because Pluto is part of our 9 planet solar system, and its a type of historical for it to be the 9th planet. Simply to demote Pluto is stupid, and if I was at the big convention, I would've voted against it. For me, I will not classify our solar system as an only 8 planet solar system, just because the "Einstien Professors" say so. In my eyes, Pluto is a planet, and it will always be the nineth planet of our solar system.

 

[johns805]

Horsefeathers!!!! I didn't get to vote!!!! Give me eight planets or give me death!!! I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore!!!! Harumph!!!!

 

[johns805]

Ooops! I meant to type: Give me nine planets or give me death!!! See? Now those rascals even got me confused! Grrrrr!....

 

[bonzelite]

new definiion is ghey. pluto is a planet.

 

[mikeyocc50]

I'm very upset to hear today that they have demoted Pluto as well. 76 years of history is now no good because a bunch of scientist say so. I will consider Pluto a planet and will tell my kids the same.

 

[chebby]

What does "cleared the neighborhood" mean anyway, does it mean cleared the entire orbit?<br /><br />If yes, than Jupitor shouldn't be a planet either because of the trojan asteroid belt, right?<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Asteroid_Belt.jpg

 

[yevaud]

Nah, it'd still be a Planet just through sheer mass.<br /><br />I think they should have kept the designation Planet, and then created subdivisions within it. Major Planet, Minor Planet, and Kuiper Planet. Something along those lines. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[SpeedFreek]

"cleared the neighbourhood" has been defined as being at least 100 times the size of anything else in its orbit. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000">_______________________________________________<br /></font><font size="2"><em>SpeedFreek</em></font> </p> </div>

 

[chebby]

I see. Well in that case I really don't have a problem with this. I don't exactly feel like watching breaking news on FOX every month or so "87th planet found! Schoolbooks to be rewritten once again!"

 

[harmonicaman]

I agree, this is a good decision. A mistake has been rectified!

 

[yevaud]

Well, yes. But it doesn't prevent objects falling into a Trojan relationship with it later on.<br /><br />Ah, they should have left well enough alone. Damnit. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Remember for how long the earth was thought to be flat?<br />Will you still teach your kids that because it's historic?<br />Or the Sun orbits the earth?<br /><br />Fact is, as science has rolled onward we have discovered an awful lot about the solar system in the last 76 years (one per Trombone).<br />It had gotten quite messy.<br />It was time to come up with a scientific definition.<br />Maybe it's not perfect, or even in many opinions, the best one.<br /><br />But it is a real semi-solid definition.<br /><br />Perhaps in another 76 years we'll discover another object that will force a rethink. We'll see, should be an interesting ride. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Yevaud,<br />That idea also makes a lot of sense, and would probably be less clunky than what's going to come out of this.<br />Glad to see Earth stayed as a planet. In the big picture, we're really just a bit of rubble, at least until the bypass is built. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[yevaud]

Don't mention you know to Vogon13, or he'll speed up his timetable. He hates it when people spoil his little surprises. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[chebby]

Yes, it's the best one that uses our current knowledge and layout of OUR solar system. The minor/major/dwarf are just semantics, the important thing they are in different catergories as they should be.<br /><br />quote by yevaud: <font color="yellow">Well, yes. But it doesn't prevent objects falling into a Trojan relationship with it later on. </font><br />I have a feeling this point (and 1/100 size exceptions) will be the reason this definition will not hold for long as we learn more about other stars' planetary systems.

 

[ittiz]

Define "in it's orbit" The kuiper belt is wider than the rest of the inner solar system. So under that definition nothing in the solar system is a planet.

 

[yevaud]

Probably not. That is the nature of science and discovery, after all. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[skie]

Seeing the responses here, I wonder what people will say if scientists one day denounce gods.

 

[jjjrep]

The new definition is clearly flawed in that NEO's cross Earths orbit making the definition of "clearing orbits" unsatisfactory...unless of course we demote Earth as a planet too.<br />Why wasn't atmosphere a consideration in the definition? Pluto is recognized to have a tenuous atmosphere, so had this been included and this "crossing" crap discounted, Pluto will have retained planet status, but Ceres and Charon wouldn't have. Just a thought!

 

[yevaud]

Why...<br /><br />We'll bicker about the meaning of Gods, Goddesses, Deities, Demons, Incubi, Succubi, and other sundry dwellers of the Netherworld.<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />(Er, the Devil is in the Details?!) <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Differential Diagnosis:  </em>"<strong><em>I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are</em></strong>."<br /> </p> </div>

 

[harmonicaman]

Hmmm... I would like to go on the record as denouncing the evil God Seth. Are you happy now?