Experts meet to decide Pluto fate, Finally we'll know what a 'planet' is... |
Experts meet to decide Pluto fate, Finally we'll know what a 'planet' is... |
Aug 14 2006, 06:06 AM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 295 Joined: 2-March 04 From: Central California Member No.: 45 |
-------------------- Eric P / MizarKey
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Aug 16 2006, 03:45 AM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 540 Joined: 17-November 05 From: Oklahoma Member No.: 557 |
It has been announced on the SpaceDaily website that the committee was unanimous in defining a "Planet" as a body big enough to round itself off gravitationally, and whose shape is determined by hydrostatic rather than rigid forces.
Pluto remains a planet under this definition. All seven members of the committee are reported to be in complete agreement on this. And this will be the draft submitted to the IAU. They report that there are twelve known planets in our solar system under this definition. |
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Aug 16 2006, 04:05 AM
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#3
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2517 Joined: 13-September 05 Member No.: 497 |
They report that there are twelve known planets in our solar system under this definition. Spacedaily claims that Charon makes the cut as a planet. I don't see how, since the body has to be in orbit around a star. It seems like they are saying that if the barycenter is outside either body (or something like that) then both bodies are planets. Seems kinda silly to me. Worst. Definition. Ever. -------------------- Disclaimer: This post is based on public information only. Any opinions are my own.
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Aug 16 2006, 09:06 AM
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#4
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Member Group: Members Posts: 156 Joined: 18-March 05 From: Germany Member No.: 211 |
The relevant IAU press release can be found here:
http://www.iau2006.org/mirror/www.iau.org/...resolution.html Spacedaily claims that Charon makes the cut as a planet. I don't see how, since the body has to be in orbit around a star. It seems like they are saying that if the barycenter is outside either body (or something like that) then both bodies are planets. Yes indeed. This is an excerpt from the news text: "For two or more objects comprising a multiple object system, the primary object is designated a planet if it independently satisfies the conditions above. A secondary object satisfying these conditions is also designated a planet if the system barycentre resides outside the primary. Secondary objects not satisfying these criteria are "satellites". Under this definition, Pluto's companion Charon is a planet, making Pluto-Charon a double planet." Michael |
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