Plutoids: a new class of objects beyond Neptune, Astronomy, politics or damage control |
Plutoids: a new class of objects beyond Neptune, Astronomy, politics or damage control |
Jun 12 2008, 09:44 AM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 340 Joined: 11-April 08 From: Sydney, Australia Member No.: 4093 |
Article on the BBC website: 'Non-planet' Pluto gets new class
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7449735.stm QUOTE Now an IAU committee, meeting in Oslo, has suggested that small, nearly spherical objects orbiting beyond Neptune should carry the "plutoid" tag. It also goes on to say that not everybody is too excited about it: QUOTE "It's just some people in a smoke-filled room who dreamed it up," he told the Associated Press. "Plutoids or haemorrhoids, whatever they call it. This is irrelevant." -------------------- |
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Jun 13 2008, 11:20 AM
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8785 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
Stu, I see your point. Did not mean to be dismissive; can certainly see how this remains a hot topic in the public's eye, and you're right on the front lines in your outreach efforts.
I don't know. Perhaps you could describe Pluto as the first known "platypus" of the Solar System. It ain't really this, it ain't really that, but it's got the characteristics of a couple of defined categories...and really, that just makes it scientifically much more interesting! (Damn; forgot to participate in the "-oid" exchange. Is it too late to submit 'pain-in-the-asteroid' as the overarching category?) -------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Jun 13 2008, 12:34 PM
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 2262 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Melbourne - Oz Member No.: 16 |
describe Pluto as the first known "platypus" of the Solar System... ...participate in the "-oid" exchange. Platypoids? Brilliant. Forget the IAU, I've got my name for roughly-spherical-but-not-cleared-there-orbit-KBO's. -------------------- |
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