alocispepraluger102 Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 Experts meet to decide Pluto fate Astronomers are gathering in the Czech capital, Prague, hoping to define exactly what counts as a planet. The International Astronomical Union hopes to settle the question of Pluto, which was first spotted in 1930. Experts are divided over whether Pluto - further away and considerably smaller than the eight other planets in our solar system - deserves the title. The stakes were raised when a bigger planet-type body, known as 2003 UB313, was discovered by a US astronomer. Professor Mike Brown and colleagues at the California Institute of Technology have discovered several other planetary objects in an area at the edge of the solar system known as the Kuiper Belt. Now delegates to the Prague conference are being asked to agree a formal definition of what is a planet for the first time. One potential outcome of the meeting would be the promotion of 2003 UB313 - nicknamed Xena - into the exclusive club of "official" planets. But Pluto's status as the ninth planet could also be in danger if the experts decide it no longer makes the grade. Discovered in 1930, Pluto is just 2,360km (1,467 miles) across, and is vastly different to more familiar planets such as our own Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn or even Neptune, Pluto's nearest neighbour. But after being measured by the Hubble space telescope, 2003 UB313 was classified larger than Pluto, at some 3,000km (1,864 miles) across its diameter. About 3,000 astronomers and scientists are meeting in Prague to determine the fate of Pluto and the relevance of millions of schoolbooks and encyclopaedias around the world. There are suggestions the scientists could decide to include Pluto in a new classification system that marks them out as different to the eight larger planets. The meeting opens on Monday and is due to last 12 days. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/scie...ure/4789531.stm Published: 2006/08/14 01:28:49 GMT © BBC MMVI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Berger Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 I'm guessing that Pluto will remain a planet due to politics. A bunch of Plutologists will be very angry if their work is demoted in importance. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 (edited) They can call themselves "Dwarf planetologists" In June, we broke the news that astronomers might get the chance to vote in September on a new definition for the word “planet,” a wording that will be proposed by a panel that includes historians, educators and other non-astronomers. Yesterday, NPR’s David Kestenbaum did some nifty digging into what that definition might be. Several of the panel members favor dividing round objects up as terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars), giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) and a third class that would include Pluto, NPR reported. “We’ll call them dwarf planets or something,” said Iwan Williams, an astronomer at the University of London who served on the panel, according to NPR. http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread220856/pg1 Edited August 14, 2006 by Claude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave9199 Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 Pluto is going OOP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 Pluto is going OOP. The Ebay price is going to be high on this one.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 I wouldn't start bidding too quick. It's probably over 50 years old, so it'll be back out again in Europe in no time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 Neptune told me that Pluto is really Larry Young. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDK Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 First gay marriage and now the elimination of Pluto. No respect for traditions I tell you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Lightning Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 It's a real shame. I adore him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Dryden Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 It's a real shame. I adore him! It was only a matter of time before that cartoon appeared. Astronomer Clyde Tombaugh will be spinning in his grave, in an elliptical manner (if there's room in the coffin). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ayers Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 Maybe we'll get a good price on it in the Concord sale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Clugston Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 Is Pluto big enough for a Mosaic Select? Or just a Mosaic Single? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDK Posted August 14, 2006 Report Share Posted August 14, 2006 Is Pluto big enough for a Mosaic Select? Or just a Mosaic Single? Hell, if the Four Freshman can get a full-blown Mosaic I don't see why the complete recordings of a cold, dead, maybe-planet can't get the big box treatment as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted August 15, 2006 Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 What will happen to the Plutocrats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alocispepraluger102 Posted August 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 Is Pluto big enough for a Mosaic Select? Or just a Mosaic Single? Hell, if the Four Freshman can get a full-blown Mosaic I don't see why the complete recordings of a cold, dead, maybe-planet can't get the big box treatment as well... how about pluto with birds? sorry evan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spontooneous Posted August 15, 2006 Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 Never fear. It'll get remastered soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Pusey Posted August 15, 2006 Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 Dont hold your breath waiting for a Mosaic, either full blown or select- El Saturn hasnt even gotten the treatment yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave9199 Posted August 15, 2006 Report Share Posted August 15, 2006 I wouldn't order a copy of Pluto through Tower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claude Posted August 24, 2006 Report Share Posted August 24, 2006 Pluto is no longer a planet. Here is the newly redefined solar system: Pluto loses status as a planet (BBC) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted August 24, 2006 Report Share Posted August 24, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesbro Posted August 24, 2006 Report Share Posted August 24, 2006 First gay marriage and now the elimination of Pluto. No respect for traditions I tell you! And while they are it, can they rename 'Uranus'?. Im tired of the jokes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted August 24, 2006 Report Share Posted August 24, 2006 This BBC report reads a bit strangely. The scientists agreed that for a celestial body to qualify as a planet: it must be in orbit around the Sun it must be large enough that it takes on a nearly round shape it has cleared its orbit of other objects Pluto was automatically disqualified because its highly elliptical orbit overlaps with that of Neptune. It will now join a new category of dwarf planets. If Pluto's orbit overlaps with Neptune's, then Neptune hasn't cleared its orbit of other objects. So Neptune doesn't qualify either. MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ep1str0phy Posted August 24, 2006 Report Share Posted August 24, 2006 The BBC report said something about 'dominating' the orbit, too, which sounds a mite clearer (although the jokes are in that one, no doubt). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie87 Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 I vote for "Planet X" for the name of the next planet to be elected Planet-hood. That name rocks. Hell, any name with "X" in it rocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aggie87 Posted August 25, 2006 Report Share Posted August 25, 2006 Here is the kicker Aggie87, or at least a conjecture. What if by the year 2012, the world is engaged in a heavier world war. What if scientist discovers and inbound object reminiscent of "World in Collision" This object happens to a brown dwarf with a 3,600-year orbit around the sun after all humanity does not account for recorded history during that period, right. This object (call it Planet X) is inbound, hypothetical this is what brings humanity closer together, soldiers and police will not want to fight amongst one another but take care of their families and countries. Wouldn't you think? As much as I think it's a joke, I'd be more worried about Aric's Bird Flu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.