Should Vesta be a dwarf planet?

[wonky]

Ceres, which has a differentiated interior, is known as the smallest of the dwarf planets right now. <br /><br />What about Vesta? It's been shown to have a differentiated interior. The thing is, it's NOT round--due the the fact that the bottom of it has been ripped off at some point in the past.<br /><br />Do you think Vesta should be classified as a dwarf planet?

 

[kheider]

<font color="yellow">Do you think Vesta should be classified as a dwarf planet? </font><br /><br />Yes and No. I think it might be ok to call Vesta a Demolished Dwarf Planet.<br /><br />The Death of Dwarf Planet Vesta (Link Fixed via re-direction)<br /><br />A Piece of Asteroid Vesta<br /><br />-- Kevin Heider

 

[MeteorWayne]

This is one thing that points out how difficult setting real definitions are.<br />Excluding the classic 8 planets, Pluto and Erin, there are 27 other known objects larger than Vesta.<br />Remember, the members of the asteroid belt together are a fraction of the mass of mercury.<br /><br />Then if you add Vesta, then Pallas, the same size, and also differentiated and demolished gets in too, ad infinitum. <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>

 

[kheider]

For some reason SDC messed up the link to "The Death of Asteroid Vesta?"<br /><br />So I changed the link to point to a higher folder.<br /><br />The Death of Dwarf Planet Vesta<br /><br />-- Kevin Heider

 

[kheider]

<font color="yellow">There are 27 other known objects larger than Vesta.</font><br /><br /><br />Hello Wayne;<br /><br />I assume that your list of 27 objects larger than Vesta (578km) ONLY includes (8) Planets, (3) official 'Dwarf Planets', and (16) Moons.<br /><br />From your big list, how many TNOs are currently estimated (guessed?) to be larger than Vesta?<br /><br />Note: Vesta (2.7e20 kg) is slighty more massive than asteroid Pallas (2.2e20 kg)<br /><br />-- Kevin Heider

 

[SpeedFreek]

I prefer the term "a dwarf planet remnant" <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000">_______________________________________________<br /></font><font size="2"><em>SpeedFreek</em></font> </p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

I have not included moons at all, I consider them in a separate class (satellites of planets). This count only refers to sun orbiting objects. NOT planetary satellites.<br />If we included them, the count would be at least a dozen higher.<br />Pluto-Charon is a special case. Either it is a binary planet, binary Plutino, or binary whatever.<br /><br />So the answer is, 27.<br /><br />Please realize, these are ESTIMATED diameters, as anything beyond Pluto is an estimate.<br /><br />Many objects from Pluto inward have had their actual diameters measured. Beyond that, with one or two exceptions, they are estimates. Still, my point is there's a lot of stuff in this size range. <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>

 

[kheider]

<font color="yellow">If we included them (moons), the count would be at least a dozen higher.</font><br /><br />Actually the number of moons (Charon included) larger than Vesta is 16, the same number of unclassified TNOs that you were suggesting. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />Charon is the 'smallest moon' larger than Vesta. Enceladus is somewhat smaller and less massive. I listed the moons because when it comes to understanding differentiated spheres, the moons do count.<br /><br />(Diameter;Mass)<br /><br />Charon: 1207 km; 1.5e21 kg<br />Vesta: 578 km; 2.7e20 kg<br />Enceladus: 512 km; 1.2e20 kg<br /><br />-- Kevin Heider

 

[wonky]

Yes, it seems Vesta WAS a dwarf planet at one point, though it's basically been pretty much torn apart by this point.<br /><br />As for Pallas, from what I understand, it has a very irregular egg shape.