Pluto no longer a planet

~~Hacking is a Felony~~ · 08-24-2006, 03:57 PM

Pluto no longer a planet, say astronomers

Thursday, August 24, 2006; Posted: 10:27 a.m. EDT (14:27 GMT)
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.

After a tumultuous week of clashing over the essence of the cosmos, the International Astronomical Union stripped Pluto of the planetary status it has held since its discovery in 1930. The new definition of what is -- and isn't -- a planet fills a centuries-old black hole for scientists who have labored since Copernicus without one.

Although astronomers applauded after the vote, Jocelyn Bell Burnell -- a specialist in neutron stars from Northern Ireland who oversaw the proceedings -- urged those who might be "quite disappointed" to look on the bright side.

"It could be argued that we are creating an umbrella called 'planet' under which the dwarf planets exist," she said, drawing laughter by waving a stuffed Pluto of Walt Disney fame beneath a real umbrella.

The decision by the prestigious international group spells out the basic tests that celestial objects will have to meet before they can be considered for admission to the elite cosmic club.

For now, membership will be restricted to the eight "classical" planets in the solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Much-maligned Pluto doesn't make the grade under the new rules for a planet: "a celestial body that is in orbit around the sun, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a ... nearly round shape, and has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit."

Pluto is automatically disqualified because its oblong orbit overlaps with Neptune's.

Instead, it will be reclassified in a new category of "dwarf planets," similar to what long have been termed "minor planets." The definition also lays out a third class of lesser objects that orbit the sun -- "small solar system bodies," a term that will apply to numerous asteroids, comets and other natural satellites.

It was unclear how Pluto's demotion might affect the mission of NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, which earlier this year began a 91/2-year journey to the oddball object to unearth more of its secrets.

The decision at a conference of 2,500 astronomers from 75 countries was a dramatic shift from just a week ago, when the group's leaders floated a proposal that would have reaffirmed Pluto's planetary status and made planets of its largest moon and two other objects. (Watch why some think planet size doesn't matter -- 3:39)

That plan proved highly unpopular, splitting astronomers into factions and triggering days of sometimes combative debate that led to Pluto's undoing.

Now, two of the objects that at one point were cruising toward possible full-fledged planethood will join Pluto as dwarfs: the asteroid Ceres, which was a planet in the 1800s before it got demoted, and 2003 UB313, an icy object slightly larger than Pluto whose discoverer, Michael Brown of the California Institute of Technology, has nicknamed "Xena."

Charon, the largest of Pluto's three moons, is no longer under consideration for any special designation.

Brown was pleased by the decision. He had argued that Pluto and similar bodies didn't deserve planet status, saying that would "take the magic out of the solar system."

"UB313 is the largest dwarf planet. That's kind of cool," he said.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

**skelooth** · 08-24-2006, 10:46 PM

Quote:

UB313, an icy object slightly larger than Pluto whose discoverer, Michael Brown of the California Institute of Technology, has nicknamed "Xena."

The Identity of Proverbs is finally revealed! Great article Professor Brown! I was just wondering though, what about that unidentifiable mass right next to uranus?

**Sholiz** · 08-25-2006, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skelooth

The Identity of Proverbs is finally revealed! Great article Professor Brown! I was just wondering though, what about that unidentifiable mass right next to uranus?

That's what you call dingleberries.

AYung · 08-25-2006, 03:09 AM

Yeah I saw this on the news today!!

**DJSTARER** · 08-25-2006, 08:16 PM

It's about time they released that info to the public. Astronomists have known this for years.

**Trick D** · 08-25-2006, 09:10 PM

I have always considered Pluto an Object, but not a planet. It has an awkward orbit and rotates are the sun and it's moon. Not quite a planet.

**warriors** · 08-25-2006, 11:20 PM

This is good news. I just called my ninth grade science teacher and told her to go ahead and change the grade on that test of mine that I made a 97 on to a 100 where we had to name the planets and i missed pluto

**NYCmitch25** · 08-25-2006, 11:32 PM

**** pluto

**powerman2000** · 08-25-2006, 11:53 PM

Looks like a duck.................

**Pioneer** · 08-26-2006, 01:38 AM

its a big Kramer sized snowball. I guess I can understand it not being a planet.

(Seinfeld reference for those of you who didn't follow)

Ihateeveryone · 08-26-2006, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pioneer

its a big Kramer sized snowball. I guess I can understand it not being a planet.

(Seinfeld reference for those of you who didn't follow)

I get it.

This will f**k with my Horoscope, I just know it

TheRock · 08-27-2006, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ihateeveryone

I get it.

This will f**k with my Horoscope, I just know it

Since when do guys give a f**k about horoscopes?

... Oh

Ihateeveryone · 08-27-2006, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRock

Since when do guys give a f**k about horoscopes?

... Oh

Sarcasm is the highest form of wit, sunshine

08-24-2006, 03:57 PM	#1
~~Hacking is a Felony~~ I destroy property Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 4,105 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	Pluto no longer a planet Pluto no longer a planet, say astronomers Thursday, August 24, 2006; Posted: 10:27 a.m. EDT (14:27 GMT) 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. After a tumultuous week of clashing over the essence of the cosmos, the International Astronomical Union stripped Pluto of the planetary status it has held since its discovery in 1930. The new definition of what is -- and isn't -- a planet fills a centuries-old black hole for scientists who have labored since Copernicus without one. Although astronomers applauded after the vote, Jocelyn Bell Burnell -- a specialist in neutron stars from Northern Ireland who oversaw the proceedings -- urged those who might be "quite disappointed" to look on the bright side. "It could be argued that we are creating an umbrella called 'planet' under which the dwarf planets exist," she said, drawing laughter by waving a stuffed Pluto of Walt Disney fame beneath a real umbrella. The decision by the prestigious international group spells out the basic tests that celestial objects will have to meet before they can be considered for admission to the elite cosmic club. For now, membership will be restricted to the eight "classical" planets in the solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Much-maligned Pluto doesn't make the grade under the new rules for a planet: "a celestial body that is in orbit around the sun, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a ... nearly round shape, and has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit." Pluto is automatically disqualified because its oblong orbit overlaps with Neptune's. Instead, it will be reclassified in a new category of "dwarf planets," similar to what long have been termed "minor planets." The definition also lays out a third class of lesser objects that orbit the sun -- "small solar system bodies," a term that will apply to numerous asteroids, comets and other natural satellites. It was unclear how Pluto's demotion might affect the mission of NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, which earlier this year began a 91/2-year journey to the oddball object to unearth more of its secrets. The decision at a conference of 2,500 astronomers from 75 countries was a dramatic shift from just a week ago, when the group's leaders floated a proposal that would have reaffirmed Pluto's planetary status and made planets of its largest moon and two other objects. (Watch why some think planet size doesn't matter -- 3:39) That plan proved highly unpopular, splitting astronomers into factions and triggering days of sometimes combative debate that led to Pluto's undoing. Now, two of the objects that at one point were cruising toward possible full-fledged planethood will join Pluto as dwarfs: the asteroid Ceres, which was a planet in the 1800s before it got demoted, and 2003 UB313, an icy object slightly larger than Pluto whose discoverer, Michael Brown of the California Institute of Technology, has nicknamed "Xena." Charon, the largest of Pluto's three moons, is no longer under consideration for any special designation. Brown was pleased by the decision. He had argued that Pluto and similar bodies didn't deserve planet status, saying that would "take the magic out of the solar system." "UB313 is the largest dwarf planet. That's kind of cool," he said. Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

08-25-2006, 03:09 AM	#4
AYung IMPC Contestant Join Date: May 2005 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Canada Posts: 2,282 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 41	Yeah I saw this on the news today!! __________________ Clean Bulking Journal http://www.ironmass.com/showthread.php?t=9546 Max Lifts Bench: 155 x 6 Deadlift: 315 x 6 Squat: 245 x 6 1 Rep Max Lifts Bench: 180 - Tested Deadlift: 365 - Tested Squat: 285 - Estimated TOTAL: 831 @ 156lbs Eddie Guerrero (1967-2005, R.I.P.) You'll always be loved and remembered.

08-25-2006, 08:16 PM	#5
DJSTARER eating more folate... Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: State College, PA Posts: 4,041 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 114	It's about time they released that info to the public. Astronomists have known this for years. __________________ My philosophies on training: "Extreme training yields extreme results" "Just because you can, does not mean you should" "The best program is the one you are not doing" Penn State Powerlifting-181 lb weightclass PGA Professional of America Current Stats: 474 Squat 601 Deadlift 320 Bench Goals for next training cycle: 500lbs squat and a total over 1400 in competition

08-25-2006, 11:20 PM	#7
warriors The world is yours Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,127 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 29	This is good news. I just called my ninth grade science teacher and told her to go ahead and change the grade on that test of mine that I made a 97 on to a 100 where we had to name the planets and i missed pluto __________________ Not Around...

08-25-2006, 11:53 PM	#9
powerman2000 The Old Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 4,127 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 200	Looks like a duck................. __________________ Don't forget to periodize Best BP 507 lbs competitive Best Squat 705 lbs competitive Best DL 650 lbs competitive Guns don't kill people, men who come home early do. My workout log http://www.ironmass.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6247

08-25-2006, 11:32 PM	#8
NYCmitch25 Silver Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: New York Posts: 1,098 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 50	**** pluto

08-26-2006, 01:38 AM	#10
Pioneer Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,719 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 73	its a big Kramer sized snowball. I guess I can understand it not being a planet. (Seinfeld reference for those of you who didn't follow) __________________ "A Marine in battle fears disgracing himself by running. He fears not losing his life, but losing his honor. He may not be able to preserve his life, but he can always preserve his honor. That much is within his power... To fear disgrace but not death, to fear not duty but dereliction from duty -- this is courage." -FMFM 1-0 "Leading Marines" pg. 43 Drive on

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