Quote:
Originally Posted by AussieTrooper
I wonder if these images were available a decade ago, if Pluto might not have had a stay of execution for a few years.
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If we had pictures like this of Eris would we call it a planet too? We have similar images of Ceres, though it's not nearly as visually spectacular, should we call it a planet?
It doesn't really matter whether science classifies Pluto as a planet, dwarf planet, TNO, KBO, whatever, but surely whatever label(s) science gives to Pluto needs to also be given to the other similar bodies. The way I see it having an exception to the rule doesn't really work well in science.
Having said that, of course scientists often need to classify things in a way that popular culture won't accept or adhere to so I guess we, as non scientists, can call it whatever we want.
Personally I'd prefer it if Pluto was still classified as a planet and our Solar system had 14 planets but nobody listens to me, and either way Pluto is still Pluto
