I always felt that since Pluto orbits on a different plane than the rest of the planets it probably didn't form with them when the solar system was formed, but was probably captured in orbit as it passed by, or was a moon that was knocked away or something. So it shouldn't be a planet, by definition.
I don't think size should be an issue. It should be when/how it was formed and its resulting orbit (since they're all on the same plane). Although then each asteroid in the asteroid belt could be a separate planet, so who knows?
i don't think that, "because that's how i learned it" isn't a good enough reason for science to deny new discoveries.
if they want to set up arbitrary rules and let those be the guidelines for how they label celestial bodies, then that's great. but let's not just set up arbitrary guidelines and then arbitrarily not follow them. that's just silly. scientists are allowed to be silly, but they can't set up 6th grade science students for failure because they don't want to come to a consensus. that's rude.
I dont think "because thats how I learned it" is a good enough arguement either (They renamed the brontosaur to Diplodicus(sp) so, damn).
But, yes, it has a strange orbit but it also has 3 other orbiting bodies around it.
I will admit that if they continue to hype it, they might manage to get more children interested in the sciences which all in all is a good thing in my opinion.
My Very Educated Mother Just Showed Us Nine Planets. Demote Pluto, and it's "My Very Educated Mother Just Showed Us Eight." YOu have to rename Neptune "Eptune."
Bad move.
Some say Pluto isn't a planet, it's a Kuiper Belt "object." So Pluto is a different sort of planet--that's OK. We already have Terrestrial Planets and Jovian Planets. There is room in the Solar System for "Kuiper Belt Planets.
And so what if they are discovering new Kuiper Belt Objects bigger than Pluto? There's room in the solar system for more planets. This is the freaking 21st century! If they can't discover more planets in the 21st century, what's the point of living in the future!
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ericcoleman
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no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 03:58 pm (UTC)This is shaking the foundations of my warm-cozy-things-I've-known-since-grade-school-and-done-reports-on basics. Yes. No. Yes.
*need more coffee before answering the poll, perhaps*
no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 04:23 pm (UTC)I don't think size should be an issue. It should be when/how it was formed and its resulting orbit (since they're all on the same plane). Although then each asteroid in the asteroid belt could be a separate planet, so who knows?
no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 04:25 pm (UTC)Size doesn't matter
no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 05:09 pm (UTC)if they want to set up arbitrary rules and let those be the guidelines for how they label celestial bodies, then that's great. but let's not just set up arbitrary guidelines and then arbitrarily not follow them. that's just silly. scientists are allowed to be silly, but they can't set up 6th grade science students for failure because they don't want to come to a consensus. that's rude.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 05:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 08:13 pm (UTC)I would have answerend the third one.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-14 08:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-15 03:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-15 03:37 pm (UTC)But, yes, it has a strange orbit but it also has 3 other orbiting bodies around it.
I will admit that if they continue to hype it, they might manage to get more children interested in the sciences which all in all is a good thing in my opinion.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-16 02:30 am (UTC)Bad move.
Some say Pluto isn't a planet, it's a Kuiper Belt "object." So Pluto is a different sort of planet--that's OK. We already have Terrestrial Planets and Jovian Planets. There is room in the Solar System for "Kuiper Belt Planets.
And so what if they are discovering new Kuiper Belt Objects bigger than Pluto? There's room in the solar system for more planets. This is the freaking 21st century! If they can't discover more planets in the 21st century, what's the point of living in the future!