Comments on: The cracked 10th “planet” and sub-orbital space tourism http://polyscience.org/2005/08/the-cracked-10th-planet-and-sub-orbital-space-tourism/ Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:15:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Kim http://polyscience.org/2005/08/the-cracked-10th-planet-and-sub-orbital-space-tourism/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Kim Fri, 19 Aug 2005 17:33:39 +0000 http://polyscience.org/?p=39#comment-93 Actually, to be a real nitpicker, it doesn't lie in the Kuiper belt proper, but in the scattered disc. But the terminology may be somewhat confused and depending on which astronomer you ask :-) Concerning it's planetary status, it might be difficult to avoid calling this a planet, even though it would be desirable from many perspectives. It would really have been best if they hadn't discovered Pluto until now. Then they could have avoided calling IT a planet. I'm pretty sure neither Ceres, Sedna, Quaoar (or Orcus, Ixion, Varuna or any of the other sub-Pluto bodies) is ever going to be called planets officially. We're going to find tens of Plutos and hundreds of Quaoar's in the future, and we can't really have hundreds of planets the vast majority of which are really tiny. It would subvert the meaning of the word "planet". My guess is that Pluto will remain a planet for historical reasons. It is called a planet in so many books, posters and what have you that it's completely impractical to take away it's planetary status, even if that would be the most reasonable thing to do. What they will do about this new one, and other "super-Plutos", is a tricky one though ... Actually, to be a real nitpicker, it doesn’t lie in the Kuiper belt proper, but in the scattered disc. But the terminology may be somewhat confused and depending on which astronomer you ask :-)

Concerning it’s planetary status, it might be difficult to avoid calling this a planet, even though it would be desirable from many perspectives. It would really have been best if they hadn’t discovered Pluto until now. Then they could have avoided calling IT a planet.

I’m pretty sure neither Ceres, Sedna, Quaoar (or Orcus, Ixion, Varuna or any of the other sub-Pluto bodies) is ever going to be called planets officially. We’re going to find tens of Plutos and hundreds of Quaoar’s in the future, and we can’t really have hundreds of planets the vast majority of which are really tiny. It would subvert the meaning of the word “planet”.

My guess is that Pluto will remain a planet for historical reasons. It is called a planet in so many books, posters and what have you that it’s completely impractical to take away it’s planetary status, even if that would be the most reasonable thing to do. What they will do about this new one, and other “super-Plutos”, is a tricky one though …

]]> By: Bob Waters http://polyscience.org/2005/08/the-cracked-10th-planet-and-sub-orbital-space-tourism/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Bob Waters Thu, 04 Aug 2005 07:04:58 +0000 http://polyscience.org/?p=39#comment-39 Given its eccentricity and affinity with Pluto, I propose "Goofy." BTW, I expect Sedna, Quaoar, Ceres and Goofy all to become official planets when the IAU finally gets around to adopting the first actual scientific definition of the term ever. Given its eccentricity and affinity with Pluto, I propose “Goofy.”

BTW, I expect Sedna, Quaoar, Ceres and Goofy all to become official planets when the IAU finally gets around to adopting the first actual scientific definition of the term ever.

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