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Thread: What the hell is wrong with astronomers?

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    Banned rozz's Avatar
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    Default What the hell is wrong with astronomers?

    So, there's been a new planet found, as you might have heard. It is almost 10 billion miles from the sun and more than 3 times more distant than the next closest planet, Pluto, and takes more than twice as long to orbit the sun as Pluto. It also has a moon, apparently.

    Very freakin exciting.

    Among news of the wtf, names currently under consideration for the planet incude "Xena" with talks for the moon to be called "Gabrielle". Man, I wish I were kidding.

    Yes, it certainly adds luster to the skies thinking that somewhere out there, there are orbiting characters from a freakin t.v. show. What. The. Fuck.

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    Veteran Member Docido's Avatar
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    Default Re: What the hell is wrong with astronomers?

    Planets are named by the International Astronomical Union. Xena and Gabrielle are just codenames given by the discoverer until an official name is decided. Other codenames the discovery team has used are Easter bunny, Santa, and Rudolph. There is almost no chance that Xena or any of the other names will be permanent.

    http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/planetlila/
    Summer afternoon - Summer afternoon... the two most beautiful words in the English language. Henry James

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    Banned rozz's Avatar
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    Default Re: What the hell is wrong with astronomers?

    Grar, damn your logic. I found out the same as I delved further into its stupidity. But still, why the temp. monikers? UB313 serves quite fine, if you ask me. Applying temp. names can only lead to later confusion. And when did we stop clling it "Planet X"?

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    Veteran Member badpixie's Avatar
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    Default Re: What the hell is wrong with astronomers?

    Contrary to popular belief, Planet X is not the term for any undiscovered planet beyond Pluto.

    As we learn more about the far reaches of our solar system, the idea of what makes a body a "planet" is becoming harder to define. There are many bodies beyond Pluto that rival it in size and some probably have satellites of their own. In fact, whether Pluto should be considered a major "planet" is currently a matter of contention.

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    Default Re: What the hell is wrong with astronomers?

    I vote for 8 planets. if pluto was discovered today it wouldnt be a planet. it's included for historical reasons.

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    Default Re: What the hell is wrong with astronomers?

    Yes, I believe Pluto was actually removed from the list of planets recently.


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    Featured Member Wwanderer's Avatar
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    Default Re: What the hell is wrong with astronomers?

    See

    http://www.iau2006.org/mirror/www.ia...1_release.html

    and its links for the official word from the International Astronomical Union (IAU), which has jurisdiction over these matters, at least as far professional astronomers are concerned. The newly proposed definition (and it is only a *proposal*, not official unless adopted by the IAU membership in a vote scheduled for Aug 24) would give the Solar System 12 known planets and would likely eventually result in dozens more as additional large outer Solar System objects are discovered in the years and decades ahead.

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    Veteran Member Docido's Avatar
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    Default Re: What the hell is wrong with astronomers?

    With all the undiscovered objects out there in the Kuiper Belt, the planet definition is nearly meaningless, and the proposed revision is a weak compromise. If it were up to me, Pluto wouldn't be allowed in the planet club.
    Summer afternoon - Summer afternoon... the two most beautiful words in the English language. Henry James

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    Featured Member Wwanderer's Avatar
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    Default Re: What the hell is wrong with astronomers?

    Quote Originally Posted by Docido
    With all the undiscovered objects out there in the Kuiper Belt, the planet definition is nearly meaningless, and the proposed revision is a weak compromise. If it were up to me, Pluto wouldn't be allowed in the planet club.
    As pointed out in this link

    http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/planetlila/

    which you posted above, defining "planets" is a bit like defining "continents". It is impossible to come up with any simple, objective and logical definition which is also consistent with conventional/historical usage. The definition proposed by the IAU committee is, imo, a quite sensible scientific one (what else would one expect from a committee of scientists) but an absolutely awful one by historical and popular culture standards.

    -Ww
    "At this moment what more need we seek?
    As the Truth eternally reveals itself,
    This very place is the Lotus Land of Purity,
    This very body is the Body of the Buddha."
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    Default Re: What the hell is wrong with astronomers?

    I got a better question, who cares? Deciding on these names is probably costing us millions of tax dollars.

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    Featured Member Lola Lee's Avatar
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    Default Re: What the hell is wrong with astronomers?

    LOL! I think Xena would be an AWESOME name for a planet!




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