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Since it was stripped of planetary status, Pluto’s defenders have been fighting

theguardian.com

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Re: Since it was stripped of planetary status, Pluto’s defenders have been fighting

#31

Post by ivan_gammel »

adrian_b wrote: post #17

> “One of the biggest flaws with the IAU definition is that you can have the same object in two different orbits,” says Kornfeld. “In one, it’s considered a planet, and in the other, it’s not considered a planet.” No, there is no flaw in this, and moreover there is nothing new in this. This is how it has always been, it is not something invented recently. In the Solar System, there are 3 Mercury-sized satellites and…

I‘m seeing this classification for the first time, but it sounds very reasonable and feels like it should have been like that. Is it your idea or is there any story behind it?

Re: Since it was stripped of planetary status, Pluto’s defenders have been fighting

#32

Post by [deleted] »

jerf wrote: post #19

You know, this is really just a fantastic opportunity to realize the phenomenal psychological power of "headcanon". Who cares if Pluto is or is not tagged with the word "planet" by some organization you know effectively nothing about, have no control over, has no control over you, and couldn't so much as move a pebble on the planetary body in question any time in the next 20 years, if not more? Have whatever emotiona…

[deleted]

Re: Since it was stripped of planetary status, Pluto’s defenders have been fighting

#33

Post by hn_submit »

nemomarx wrote: post #18
hn_submit wrote: post #9

I'm in the same camp. I believe the classification of Pluto as a dwarf planet was arbitrary and inconsistent. I mean, it's been known as a planet for almost 80 years and suddenly we demote it? I believe someone was trying to make a name for themselves here and ignoring the history of Pluto and its discovery.

How to keep Pluto as a planet but say larger objects than it that also orbit the sun aren't planets, is the question I guess?

It's basically a question of definition: we define Pluto as a planet and the others as Kuiper Belt Objects (KBO)

As human beings we're allowed to make these kind of decisions. We define ourselves to be outside of the animal kingdom when we're clearly part of it and a type of animal ourselves.

Re: Since it was stripped of planetary status, Pluto’s defenders have been fighting

#35

Post by adrian_b »

ivan_gammel wrote: post #31
adrian_b wrote: post #17

> “One of the biggest flaws with the IAU definition is that you can have the same object in two different orbits,” says Kornfeld. “In one, it’s considered a planet, and in the other, it’s not considered a planet.” No, there is no flaw in this, and moreover there is nothing new in this. This is how it has always been, it is not something invented recently. In the Solar System, there are 3 Mercury-sized satellites and…

I‘m seeing this classification for the first time, but it sounds very reasonable and feels like it should have been like that. Is it your idea or is there any story behind it?

Many people use it, but it is not something codified formally by an international organization, like in the IAU definitions of "planet" and "dwarf planet".

Re: Since it was stripped of planetary status, Pluto’s defenders have been fighting

#36

Post by wolrah »

snapcaster wrote: post #16
gus_massa wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As the article explains, if you bring back Pluto you must include Eris too, and perhaps Makemake and Haumea if you ignore is not as round as expected, and who know how many other undiscovered small object near them. (And Ceres? I like Ceres.) Anyway, 9 is not an option, you must choose 8 or 10+.

no you don't. just because some nerds say it doesn't make it true. just bring back pluto and nothing else

Science works on logical rules.

What logical rule would you propose that allows Pluto to be a planet without also bringing in a bunch of others?

If you just want to arbitrarily declare things are they way you like them to be, religion is over there.

Re: Since it was stripped of planetary status, Pluto’s defenders have been fighting

#37

Post by elictronic »

gus_massa wrote: post #10
baggy_trough wrote: post #3

Bring back Pluto!

As the article explains, if you bring back Pluto you must include Eris too, and perhaps Makemake and Haumea if you ignore is not as round as expected, and who know how many other undiscovered small object near them. (And Ceres? I like Ceres.) Anyway, 9 is not an option, you must choose 8 or 10+.

Pluto is grandfathered in through the collective Consciousness of society. Just treat it the same way as tomatoes, which are officially fruits but no child believes that crap.

Re: Since it was stripped of planetary status, Pluto’s defenders have been fighting

#39

Post by lenerdenator »

jsbisviewtiful wrote: post #21

In case anyone was curious, the Moon is bigger than Pluto. Pluto's 2/3 the size of the Moon. If any dwarf planet should be upgraded to a planet, it's Eris. Eris's diameter is over 600km bigger than Pluto's.

Aye, but what does Pluto orbit, and what does the Moon orbit?
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