Fight for Pluto !, A Campaign to Reverse the Unjust Demotion |
Fight for Pluto !, A Campaign to Reverse the Unjust Demotion |
Aug 24 2006, 08:24 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 548 Joined: 19-March 05 From: Princeton, NJ, USA Member No.: 212 |
Dear Friends,
Today I am extremely dissapointed that the Pluto Demoters have triumphed. I respect their opinion, but disagree with it. I strongly agree with Alan Stern's statement calling it "absurd" that only 424 astronomers were allowed to vote, out of some 10,000 professional astronomers around the globe. This tiny group is clearly not at all representative by mathematics alone. I believe we should formulate a plan to overturn this unjust decision and return Pluto to full planetary status, and as the first member of a third catagory of planets, Xena being number two. Thus a total of 10 Planets in our Solar System Please respond if you agree that Pluto should be restored as a planet. ken Ken Kremer Amateur Astronomers Association of Princeton Program Chairman |
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Guest_DonPMitchell_* |
Aug 24 2006, 09:05 PM
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Guests |
I agree, this is an arbitrary ruling by a small subset of astronomers. And who even says that astronomers alone get to decide? How many people involved in space research today have a degree in astronomy?
JRehling makes an important point. Any petition to reverse the ruling is likely to become fragmented by people promoting various different defintions of "planet". |
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Aug 24 2006, 09:19 PM
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#3
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 34 Joined: 9-January 06 Member No.: 639 |
At any rate, I'm in! What if it turns out Pluto and UB313 are the only TNOs over 2000 km in diameter out to several hundred AU? I also agree a new planet class should be created, perhaps one that covers bodies in the 2000-6000 km diameter range. Call it Sub-Terrestrial Planet? Then have bodies smaller than 2000 km called "dwarf planets?" Later!
J P |
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Aug 24 2006, 10:18 PM
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#4
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Member Group: Members Posts: 548 Joined: 19-March 05 From: Princeton, NJ, USA Member No.: 212 |
At any rate, I'm in! What if it turns out Pluto and UB313 are the only TNOs over 2000 km in diameter out to several hundred AU? Exactly. My proposal clearly is for a cut-off at 2000 km, 10 Planets known at this time. Thats reasonable and avoids the 43+ planet scenario which Mike Brown correctly points out. Thanks for the response so far. Looking forward to more. ken |
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Aug 24 2006, 10:58 PM
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#5
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Member Group: Members Posts: 249 Joined: 11-June 05 From: Finland (62°14′N 25°44′E) Member No.: 408 |
Exactly. My proposal clearly is for a cut-off at 2000 km, 10 Planets known at this time. Thats reasonable and avoids the 43+ planet scenario which Mike Brown correctly points out. Not necessarily. There may be many Pluto-sized objects waiting for discovery. -------------------- The universe is not only stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine.
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