Public backs Pluto for Planethood

[Hans Tucker (Hans)]

http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci...02-10ozj6.html

[AG Hybrid (Adrian)]

Who cares what the public thinks in regards to Planetary classifications?

[Steffen]

Science by popular vote – now there is a new end-of-civilisation scenario.

But seriously, if popular vote (i.e. polling the unknowing, uncaring, and uninformed) worked then democracy wouldn't suck so much.

Cheers
Steffen.

[hobbit]

Originally Posted by Steffen

Science by popular vote – now there is a new end-of-civilisation scenario.

But seriously, if popular vote (i.e. polling the unknowing, uncaring, and uninformed) worked then democracy wouldn't suck so much.

Cheers
Steffen.

isn't that how it got demoted in the first place?
the IAU voted on a new definition?

[multiweb (Marc)]

I hear the other planets are suing Saturn because of the non conformist hula hoop covering and Jupiter is asking for stress leave based on nasty rumors that Jenny Craig is on the verge of dumping it.

[el_draco (Rom)]

I have a soft spot for Pluto being reclassified as a planet... Yeah, I know the arguments against are completely rational, but..... the historical aspect is notable.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by hobbit

isn't that how it got demoted in the first place?
the IAU voted on a new definition?

The few delegates still at the conference were all in a hurry to go to lunch and declined to revisit the initial vote.

So you see food and drinks conquers all.

[Andy01 (Andy)]

Can't we just rename it Vulcan?

[kkara4 (Krishan)]

Just my rookie opinion, but i reckon any body that has reached hydrostatic equilibrium (spheroid or ellipsoid) and that orbits a star is a planet. That then sorts out all the objects like Eris, Sedna, etc. If an object orbits another, then it is a satellite of that object. And anything else is an asteroid/comet/etc, whether orbiting the sun or on a hyperbolic trajectory through the solar system.

Too much complexity now days. Maybe it was the food as Andrew says lol!

[-George-]

Interesting read.

To me it always has been a planet, and I have always called it that. I have had people say "Yeah but it has been reclassified, it is not a planet anymore". Well... should everyting in life be 'redefined' like that and negate what it once was?

It is not a star, it does orbit around the sun, it does not look like a rock (asteroid) but is in complete shape of a planet. Therefor, it is a planet, small or big doesn't matter. To be a moon doesn't make sense because a Moon orbits a planet in general (like earth, jupiter and so forth) and Pluto does have a moon that goes around it just like every other planet.

So simple conclusion, it is a planet.

[Kunama]

Originally Posted by -George-

Interesting read.

To me it always has been a planet, and I have always called it that. I have had people say "Yeah but it has been reclassified, it is not a planet anymore". Well... should everyting in life be 'redefined' like that and negate what it once was?

It is not a star, it does orbit around the sun, it does not look like a rock (asteroid) but is in complete shape of a planet. Therefor, it is a planet, small or big doesn't matter. To be a moon doesn't make sense because a Moon orbits a planet in general (like earth, jupiter and so forth) and Pluto does have a moon that goes around it just like every other planet.

So simple conclusion, it is a planet.

When Clyde Tombaugh entered Doctor Slipher's office and uttered the words " I have found your Planet X " he didn't say 'dwarf planet x"

I too will always refer to it as a planet. The orbital motion, though, is an interesting phenomenon to see, as it can be said that Charon orbits Pluto but it is also true that Pluto orbits Charon. That's the price you pay for having such a relatively large satellite.

Lookie here: http://www.universetoday.com/113752/...orbital-dance/

[PeterEde (Peter)]

Smaller than our moon which both orbits the Earth and the Sun.
I'm sticking with Not a planet

[julianh72 (Julian)]

I recently did a Coursera on-line course on "The Science of the Solar System" presented by "Pluto Killer" Mike Brown of CalTech.
https://class.coursera.org/solarsystem-001
(Highly recommended, by the way!)

Before anyone "votes" on whether Pluto is a planet or not, it would be well worth taking a bit of time to learn why it isn't!
http://www.mikebrownsplanets.com/p/what-is-planet.html

And if that gets you thinking, then you could follow up by reading his book "Why I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming" http://web.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/howikilled.html

[el_draco (Rom)]

Originally Posted by Kunama

When Clyde Tombaugh entered Doctor Slipher's office and uttered the words " I have found your Planet X " he didn't say 'dwarf planet x"

That's the historical side of the coin and this should not be disregarded. Anyone who ever met Clyde understands this. Yep, Eris is much bigger and the logical argument is that there may be thousands of dwarf planets out there, (hence the reclassification....), but should we just rewrite history like that?

The devil here is the "but". Its different IMHO

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

if it's generally spherical and it is not a satellite then its a planet in my eyes (i'm assuming pluto is, really need to lay my eyes on it next year ).

I don't care how many of them there are out there that shouldn't make any difference, i'm sure there's billions of every type of permutation out there.

also - I might add I've got a view on binary planets and their permutations too, perhaps 'round' satellites should also be considered binary/triple/quadruple planetary systems. perhaps the central point of gravity would have to be outside the larger massed planet's orbit to consider it that way ... hmmm the big questions!!

[eddiedunlop (Martin)]

Would it hurt that much to have one exception to the 'rule'?
Why not grant Pluto special status as a planet as a tribute to the heroic era of planetary discovery?

[Blue Skies (Jacquie)]

Originally Posted by julianh72

And if that gets you thinking, then you could follow up by reading his book "Why I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming" http://web.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/howikilled.html

I was going to recommend this book as well! Its an easy read but by the end of it you'll have a much better understanding of the why's and wherefore's.