There's a problem here that everyone's missed.
The tenth planet under the new definition already HAS a name, due to the promotion of a pair of established bodies.
We gained a planet fairly close in. The asteroid Ceres is slated for immediate promotion to planet if the new definition is ratified, shaking up everything past the asteroid belt. Which makes Pluto planet number 10. Charon, also slated for immediate promotion, is 11.
And Jupiter is 6, Saturn's 7, Uranus 8, and Neptune 9.
Xena can't grab anything better than 12th planet status, which it WILL, because it's ALSO on the immediate promotion list.
Ironically, Ceres was originally considered a planet when it was discovered, and then demoted to asteroid later once they realized it was merely the largest of an entire belt of objects.
Really, this whole thing is a mess.
It's nice to HAVE a definition, but if you're going to include every chunk of rock big enough to round out a little, it's gonna get really crowded really fast.
There's a dozen known objects that will almost certainly be submitted for planetary status(including the other 3 used-to-be-planet asteroids), and another FIFTY or so Kuiper belt objects that are good contenders. Xena is the tip of the iceberg, and only on the immediate entrance list because it's larger than Pluto.
But there's no way to make a definition that keeps Pluto without including every OTHER boulder flying around. And the public is too attached to Pluto to kick it out. They throw big hissyfits every time some random news article pops up saying it's a tad odd by planetary standards.
It's not ratified yet, though. And I doubt it will be.
They've been trying to work up a definition of planet that's acceptable to everyone involved for some time now. Pluto and the Kuiper belt have blown every other attempt down.
And I gather a lot of astronomers aren't happy with the current proposal for a variety of reasons, including it's "legalese" format(and the preservation of Pluto's planetary status, and the addition of Xena, Charon, and Ceres, and yadda yadda).
You can read the actual draft proposal at the IAU site.
August 17th 2006 - The Comic Thread
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adciv
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Re: August 17th 2006 - The Comic Thread
Repensum Est Canicula
The most dangerous words from an Engineer: "I have an idea."
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson
The most dangerous words from an Engineer: "I have an idea."
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." - Thomas Jefferson
BREAKING NEWS
Dover, DE (FP)
In a surprise move, lawers at Cheatem and Bilkem have filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of the Moon, Titan, Ganymede, Callisto, Io, Europa, Triton, Rhea, Iapetus, Dione, Tethys, Tritania, Oberon, Umbriel and Ariel at the International Court in The Hague.
"Our clients are being denied their rightful billing as planets," said lead counsel Richard Visage, "and unfair billing is being distributed to smaller, insignificant objects in the outer rim." It is believed that the plaintiffs are seeking status and punitive damages from the IAU.
When interviewed for comment, Mercury had this to say, "I don't know what they're on about. I've been a planet for a long time and it's not all it's cracked up to be. They named me after a naked man with wings on his feet… how do you live that down? Pass the sun screen please." Uranus added, "Feh. Listen to Mercury… like he has it bad in the name department."
Ceres, traditionally quiet on the whole planet issue was more direct "4.5 billion years I floated out here, minding my own business. This lot, these 'moons' *HAD* to go float around Jupiter and Saturn or that icky Earth. Oh they were so cool back then. Now they're ticked because they can't be planets. They can kiss my asteroids. Patience paid off and I'm a planet now, so those bunch of moon rocks can go [expletive]. I made the big leagues and they're just jealous. Here's a moon for 'em" [photo redacted]
Most of the plaintiffs were unreachable, but Io was adamant, "I got stuck here in the early days. I've been erupting crap for billions of years trying to blow this popsicle stand. Look, if that fat yellow blob in the middle didn't hog up all the mass when we were young, I might be orbiting a star in my own right. I'm bigger and sexier than Pluto and Quaor. People look at me all the time, nobody sees those other two. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to have an eruption."
Lawyers for the IAU have not had time to review the court filing and had no comment at this time.
- Mjolnir
Dover, DE (FP)
In a surprise move, lawers at Cheatem and Bilkem have filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of the Moon, Titan, Ganymede, Callisto, Io, Europa, Triton, Rhea, Iapetus, Dione, Tethys, Tritania, Oberon, Umbriel and Ariel at the International Court in The Hague.
"Our clients are being denied their rightful billing as planets," said lead counsel Richard Visage, "and unfair billing is being distributed to smaller, insignificant objects in the outer rim." It is believed that the plaintiffs are seeking status and punitive damages from the IAU.
When interviewed for comment, Mercury had this to say, "I don't know what they're on about. I've been a planet for a long time and it's not all it's cracked up to be. They named me after a naked man with wings on his feet… how do you live that down? Pass the sun screen please." Uranus added, "Feh. Listen to Mercury… like he has it bad in the name department."
Ceres, traditionally quiet on the whole planet issue was more direct "4.5 billion years I floated out here, minding my own business. This lot, these 'moons' *HAD* to go float around Jupiter and Saturn or that icky Earth. Oh they were so cool back then. Now they're ticked because they can't be planets. They can kiss my asteroids. Patience paid off and I'm a planet now, so those bunch of moon rocks can go [expletive]. I made the big leagues and they're just jealous. Here's a moon for 'em" [photo redacted]
Most of the plaintiffs were unreachable, but Io was adamant, "I got stuck here in the early days. I've been erupting crap for billions of years trying to blow this popsicle stand. Look, if that fat yellow blob in the middle didn't hog up all the mass when we were young, I might be orbiting a star in my own right. I'm bigger and sexier than Pluto and Quaor. People look at me all the time, nobody sees those other two. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to have an eruption."
Lawyers for the IAU have not had time to review the court filing and had no comment at this time.
- Mjolnir
Re: August 17th 2006 - The Comic Thread
Just for reference, space.com had the definition that they decided on
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/0 ... ition.html
The definition, which basically says round objects orbiting stars will be called planets, is simple at first glance:
"A planet is a celestial body that (a) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (b) is in orbit around a star, and is neither a star nor a satellite of a planet."
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/0 ... ition.html
The definition, which basically says round objects orbiting stars will be called planets, is simple at first glance:
"A planet is a celestial body that (a) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (b) is in orbit around a star, and is neither a star nor a satellite of a planet."
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Spongiform
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[quote="Blaze";p="663863"]How about UB313 be named Janus? God of Doorways, Beginnings and Endings? Since it's both at the end of the Solar System for us, and the beginningfor visitors. Also marks hte "doorway" in and out of the solar system?[/quote]
I like that idea but Rupert is still my first choice.
If you're talking about doors, anyway, we could always call it Jim.
I like that idea but Rupert is still my first choice.
If you're talking about doors, anyway, we could always call it Jim.
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Werechicken
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StruckingFuggle
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I think the important question everyone is missing is, what's going to happen to My Very Educated Mother?
"He who lives by the sword dies by my arrow."
"In your histories, there are continual justifications for all manner of hellish actions. Claims of nobility and heritage and honor to cover up every bit of genocide, assassination, and massacre. At least the Horde is honest in their naked lust for power."
"In your histories, there are continual justifications for all manner of hellish actions. Claims of nobility and heritage and honor to cover up every bit of genocide, assassination, and massacre. At least the Horde is honest in their naked lust for power."
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Brent Sienna
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[quote="Greg Dean";p="663658"]Really, they should name it "Sagan" or something. Pay homage to the great sci-fi writers of our time. "Clarke" really isn't a good planet name, unfortunately. 
Ooh... "Bowman".
[/quote]
for a moment i read that as "Sagus" heheh, you'd probably be bouncing off the walls if they ever named a planet that greg
Ooh... "Bowman".
[/quote]for a moment i read that as "Sagus" heheh, you'd probably be bouncing off the walls if they ever named a planet that greg
Re: August 17th 2006 - The Comic Thread
Great news people! Pluto is no longer a planet! We now live in an 8 planet solar system!
TheWardEffect
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