What the...? Pluto no longer a planet!

Amazing:

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[glowpurple]Pluto gets the boot[/glowpurple]
Pluto no longer a planet, say astronomers

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) -- 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.

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http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/space/0....ap/index.html

That's what happens when you don't pay your galaxian dues - you forfeit your membership!

You may want to run out and buy a few galaxy models or mobiles now - as they are now collector's items! :D

Thanks for the article. I wonder what the Plutonians think about this!

Here we are restricted to our own domain because we can't even overcome speed, time, and distance variables; however little "ugly bags of mostly water" (Old Star Trek Movie) are sitting around sipping on their Starbuck's, reclassifying the universe...lol

cheers

Pluto has been a debated object since the 80. But since we have all seen it as a planet for so long, I say let the romantic side of it bear out and keep it that way. But "technically" it's not a planet.

I almost failed a science quiz because I forgot to include Pluto as a planet. Now they're telling me it was never a planet? I went through all kinds of mental anxiety from almost failing that quiz.
That's the last straw. I plan on suing my old elementary school and Pluto. :eek:

I'm amazed that they are spending all that money to get them together just to call it a "minor planet" or "dwarf planet". I must assume that these are some of the most brilliant minds on this real planet. Why not spend the time and effort on our own global issues. Things they really matter. But, I guess it's much easier to reclassify a planet than it is to clean up our own house.

cheers

The important question is what is this going to do to "My Very Educated Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pizzas"? How are kids going to remember this now? Leaving the Pizzas off the end just doesn't cut it!

Debs, your future son is gonna be saying " My very Educated Mother Just Sent Us Nine ____ nine what mom? what did you send me?!" damn those scientist who screwed it all up when I was in the womb! :)

Be ready for textbooks to be massively re-written.

poor pluto, the retarded cousin of mercury.

Actually er0k

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Be ready for textbooks to be massively re-written.

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Isn't this what they seem to have carefully avoided? IIRC there was an argument that if an object had sufficient gravity to form a globular shape, then it was potentially a planet or a moon, depending on its orbit.

The main objection to Pluto was its weird orbit?

There was talk of having to add several "planets" so they took the soft option and just demoted one :D

I wonder, is this now a "Global" rule or just in the US? what I mean is, do yall in the UK,Ireland,Asia etc.... Also now NOT consider Pluto a planet? and by "yall" I guess I mean scientists and the general public alike.

Hi Tex~

This convention was in Prague and had some 2,500 delegates from all nations. It is a global thing as far as astronomers are concerned.

As far as the public are concerned..............hell, they don't even give a rodent's rectum about major social and environmental issues? :eek: I doubt if even 10% are even aware, let alone remotely interested.

The only people it might impact upon are astrologers............ as it would affect horoscopes and such. However as the damn thing was only discovered in 1930, they obviously have some capacity for flexibility :D

Actually, they haven't said that it is NOT a planet, just that it isn't a regular planet. That sort of locks out the "wannabes" that are out there.

Nihil: You may be right, I don't know, but I guarentee you textbooks for young people (i.e. mainly below high school, particularly elementary school/primary school, whatever its called) still have the solar system in class rooms, are taught that pluto is indeed a planet, etc.

I noticed on the news that they had 'Xena' on their diagrams as well, but only talked about pluto. Is there any notice on its planetary status? I'm assuming it's just another reject dwarf like Pluto?

Hi Evil Moo, I think that the issue was they didn't want to include several other objects that would seem to have similar claims to planethood as Pluto.

Do not forget that this is an arbitrary decision by academics, it actually has no empirical scientific basis. There was a strong movement in favour of increasing the number of planets to 12, but this would have left the game open to future "discoveries" ;)

er0k, I think that the answer will be that they will leave things in junior school. You are not taught the "facts" in junior school anyways, just simplified versions.

Like water turns to steam at 212F/100C. They don't mention the effects of pressure which permit the existence of superheated steam, and water below 32F/0C.

Similarly, in Enlish Language you are taught that the vowels are: A, E, I, O, U? it is only later that you learn that "Y" is actually a pseudo-vowel.............................. perhaps Pluto should be renamed "Planet Y"? :D

Hey Hey,

The blog @ http://www.tenthplanet.info/ may be of interest to you EvilMoo. It clears up the whole 'Xena' thing... they follow the proposed definition going up to the conference and all the info coming out of it.

Peace,
HT