Thanks ASTR0744 for an opportunity to get on one of my soapboxes
I reckon (aside from the seals) the issues ASTRO744 touches on are the result of astronomers, who should know much better, trying to classify the diversity of astronomical objects using incomplete knowledge and solar-system-centricity.
There is enough known now to understand that the volume and mass of bodies is likely an almost continuous sliding scale from the smallest speck to largest/densest star. And bodies all along that scale occur in many varieties of dynamic relationships with each other.
Prof. B Green and colleagues (who's discoveries contributed to IAU angst and Pluto's reclassification) have complied with the IAU's arbitrary classification when nick-naming postulated 'planet 9' and i reckon further illuminated the futility of such classification beyond permitting (over)simplified communication between humans.
School curricular should dwell more on the diversity than on rote learning an arbitrary classification system.
I reckon it's far better to have; an open inquiring mind, to be awed by the diversity and encourage complete understanding than it is to invest effort where it does not matter more than a jot.
Just what i reckon
L
