Plan boosts solar system to 12 planets

296 Views 20 Replies 11 Participants Last post by SirPentor, Aug 24, 2006

SirPentor

Discussion Starter · Aug 16, 2006

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14364833/

Quote:

The tally of planets in our solar system would jump instantly to a dozen under a highly controversial new definition proposed by the International Astronomical Union.

Eventually, there would be hundreds of planets, as more round objects are found beyond Neptune.

The proposal, which sources tell Space.com is gaining broad support, tries to plug a big gap in astronomy textbooks, which have never had a formal definition for the word "planet." It addresses discoveries of Pluto-sized worlds that have in recent years pitched astronomers into heated debates over terminology.

Interesting read.

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

Danelle78

· #2 · Aug 16, 2006

Why would an asteroid become a planet? What happens when it gets smashed by another asteroid and is no longer round? Aren't there loads of roundish things in the asteroid belt?

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TiredX2

· #3 · Aug 16, 2006

I knew you would have posted this

:

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SirPentor

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 17, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danelle78

Why would an asteroid become a planet? What happens when it gets smashed by another asteroid and is no longer round? Aren't there loads of roundish things in the asteroid belt?

Remember that it takes more that simply being round. It must make itself round by it's own gravitational force. Something happens to be round isn't enough.
That said, I have no idea how many such things there are. I would have gone with some sort of definition that doesn't include Pluto.

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chersolly

· #5 · Aug 17, 2006

My Very Earthly Momma Just Served Us Nine Pitas isn't going to work anymore.

Poor third graders.

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tinuviel_k

· #6 · Aug 17, 2006

What will this do to astology?

Not to mention all the science books.

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mrzmeg

· #7 · Aug 17, 2006

Quote:

My Very Earthly Momma Just Served Us Nine Pitas isn't going to work anymore. Poor third graders.

Nor will, "My Valentine Eats Martian Jelly, So, Ugly Nose, Puke."

Sigh. Things just got a lot more complicated...

SirPentor

Discussion Starter · #8 · Aug 18, 2006

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14409724/

Quote:

The effort to define the term "planet" took a fresh twist today as two competing proposals were put forth at a meeting of astronomers in Prague.

In one case, Pluto would be demoted to "dwarf planet" status, which would mean it would not be a real planet at all.

Astronomers are split down the middle on the issue.

The plot thickens as this controversy brings about a bunch of sissy-nerd-slap-fights...

mrzmeg

· #9 · Aug 18, 2006

There was a fantastic segment about this on last night's Colbert Report:

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Danelle78

· #10 · Aug 18, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirPentor
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14409724/

The plot thickens as this controversy brings about a bunch of sissy-nerd-slap-fights...

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kama'aina mama

· #11 · Aug 18, 2006

Astrology is based on the stars, isn't it? Or planets, too?

mrzmeg

· #12 · Aug 18, 2006

The planets also, though Pluto wasn't discovered until 1930, so I don't think that (at least traditionally) the smaller planets are taken into account anyhow.

SirPentor

Discussion Starter · #13 · Aug 19, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by kama'aina mama
Astrology is based on the stars, isn't it? Or planets, too?

More specifically it's base on made-up crap.

eloquence

· #14 · Aug 19, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirPentor
More specifically it's base on made-up crap.

Can you be more specific?

SirPentor

Discussion Starter · #15 · Aug 24, 2006

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14489259/from/ET/

Quote:

PRAGUE, Czech Republic - Leading astronomers declared Thursday that Pluto is no longer a planet under historic new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight.

After a tumultuous week of clashing over the essence of the cosmos, the International Astronomical Union stripped Pluto of the planetary status it has held since its discovery in 1930. The new definition of what is - and isn't - a planet fills a centuries-old black hole for scientists who have labored since Copernicus without one.

Although astronomers applauded after the vote, Jocelyn Bell Burnell - a specialist in neutron stars from Northern Ireland who oversaw the proceedings - urged those who might be "quite disappointed" to look on the bright side.

I assume that that this will eventually trickle down into school books and in the next ten years or so kids will learn about the eight planets.

SirPentor

Discussion Starter · #16 · Aug 24, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by eloquence
Can you be more specific?

Well, I looked it up in two online sources and the definition appears to be (emphasis from original source, which was encarta online):

Quote:

study of planets and human behavior: the study of the positions of the Moon, Sun, and other planets in the belief that their motions affect human beings

Sounds like made-up crap to me.

To be clear, I'm open to possibility that this (or any other such theory) could be valid or at least based on something valid. But to my knowledge there has never been anything approaching a controlled study on the matter.

Also (and obviously) people can believe whatever they want. I chalk this one up with religion--that's fine to believe, but I still consider it a bunch of made-up crap.

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Unagidon

· #17 · Aug 24, 2006

Do you think Pluto will try to sue for being unjustly demoted?

kama'aina mama

· #18 · Aug 24, 2006

Pluto has no comment at this time.

meemee

· #19 · Aug 24, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unagidon
Do you think Pluto will try to sue for being unjustly demoted?

i am sure it will since one of its moons is gonna be a planet now

:

and while we are talking about astrology wasnt there a report a few years ago of a 13th sign? wonder how that lines up with teh new planets. i would say that it would make things more specific.

SirPentor actually some schools are already talking about it. i really came to know about the controversy when my friends 1st and 2nd grade son came shouting excitedly to me 'did u know they had discovered 3 new planets?'. can you believe that. it is a private school.

i researched because of the word 'new' in their sentence.

i wonder how the controversey of Clyde Tombaugh and pluto would be valid now?

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mz_libbie22

· #20 · Aug 24, 2006

3

Quote:

Originally Posted by SirPentor
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14489259/from/ET/

I assume that that this will eventually trickle down into school books and in the next ten years or so kids will learn about the eight planets.

What the h*ll?

: Is it 8 or 12????!!!! This whole debate is really annoying me. I just spent the last year studying the solar system with my 5 yr old. Now I'm supposed to tell him "oh, I guess that's not really a planet" and just hope he doesn't think I'm a total idiot.

Pluto was his "favorite" planet too.

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