Pluto In Not a Planet by DonCoat

REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS

Pluto In Not a Planet

POSTED BY: DONCOAT
UPDATED: Friday, August 25, 2006 10:02
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VIEWED: 2255
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Thursday, August 24, 2006 9:11 AM

The International Astronomical Union redefined the term 'planet' in such a way that little Pluto is no longer a planet. That leaves eight official planets in the solar system, not the nine we always thought we had.

Pluto is now a "Trans-Neptunian Object" and a dwarf planet.

Interestingly, the definition adopted today differs from the draft version, which would have left Pluto as a planet but would also have admitted three other planets: the asteroid Ceres, Pluto's moon Charon, and an as-yet-unnamed object beyond Pluto.

... and hundreds of moons, presumably!

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I'm pointin' right at it!

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 10:35 AM

DREAMTROVE

Don't matter what no white coat says, I got meself a nice big piece of rock. Or frozen methane, whatever. I mean, maybe we should fire these geeks. People study the stars, but they don't make planets, or even space ships, I'm not exactly sure what they're doing. In the new space cowboy age, where ever you hang your hat is a planet.

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 10:38 AM

PENGUIN

I guess Pluto is now a mythical place...like Iowa!

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 12:01 PM

FREMDFIRMA

Anyone who says it ain't a planet should be forced to go and correct every encylopedia, science book, starmap and whatnot to give them something more USEFUL to do.

We've considered it a planet for almost 70 some years, it can durned well stay a planet if we say it is, right ?

The game's not fun when they keep changin the rules.

-Frem

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 12:11 PM

BIGDAMNNOBODY

Quote:

Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
Anyone who says it ain't a planet should be forced to go and correct every encylopedia, science book, starmap and whatnot to give them something more USEFUL to do.

We've considered it a planet for almost 70 some years, it can durned well stay a planet if we say it is, right ?

The game's not fun when they keep changin the rules.

That's the way it's always been. only recently were the 'outer planets' discovered. and not that long ago, it was thought the sun revolved around the earth. I heard someone say in regards to this that the Universe is not changing, our perception of it is. Gotta keep up with the times.

Posting to stir stuff up.

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 12:16 PM

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

How come our Major views of the solar system change and its not on the news but celebrity divorces are on for weeks??

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 12:46 PM

MISBEHAVEN

Poor Pluto.

"The only thing that will redeem mankind is cooperation."
-Bertrand Russell

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 1:02 PM

FUTUREMRSFILLION

Silly Penguin - Pluto exists its just less important

----
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 1:17 PM

YINYANG

You were busy trying to get yourself lit on fire. It happens.

Uh-oh... what about the Science Fair?

I'm kidding. Pluto's still a planet in my book. So

, scientifical board of people-who-want-to-confuse-all-of-us-who-grew-up-with-"There are nine planets in the solar system!"

---

I'm a trouble-maker; Kaneman said so!

::points to 'I'm a trouble-maker' sticker on shirt and makes a platypus noise::

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 6:37 PM

BARCLAY

So... We're going to ignore that Pluto actually isn't a planet?

What's next, not doing research on embryonic stem cells that could save millions of lives, or preventing women from receiving a morning after pill for years with no medical justification?

Oh. Right.

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 6:54 PM

YINYANG

You were busy trying to get yourself lit on fire. It happens.

Quote:
So... We're going to ignore that Pluto actually isn't a planet?

What's next, not doing research on embryonic stem cells that could save millions of lives, or preventing women from receiving a morning after pill for years with no medical justification?

Oh. Right.

I don't think it's fair to equate ignoring that Pluto isn't a planet to stem cell research or the morning after pill. We realize that the definition has changed; but, we grew up with "There are nine planets in out solar system." The way I see it, clinging to a false definition (which we know is false) of a planet doesn't equate to abortion issues.

---

I'm a trouble-maker; Kaneman said so!

::points to 'I'm a trouble-maker' sticker on shirt and makes a platypus noise::

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Thursday, August 24, 2006 9:23 PM

SINGATE

They've finally done it. All this time the religious types have calling for the end times but it is the scientists who have finally set things in motion. The remaining planets are now teasing Pluto about its diminished status. Soon it will break orbit and hurtle towards us at tremendous speed. The resulting annihilation of itself and the Earth will win back the respect of the other planets.

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We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far.

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Friday, August 25, 2006 1:12 AM

FREMDFIRMA

I think somebody back there missed the sarcasm factor - in the great grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter whether we call pluto a planet, a celestial body, an asteroid or just a big frozen rock floating around in the void.

It does no one any harm for us to call it a planet out of tradition even if we know it doesn't meet the criteria - no more than it does anyone harm to call a spider an insect.

-Frem

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Friday, August 25, 2006 3:52 AM

BIGDAMNNOBODY

Quote:

Originally posted by Fremdfirma:

I think somebody back there missed the sarcasm factor - in the great grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter whether we call pluto a planet, a celestial body, an asteroid or just a big frozen rock floating around in the void.

It does no one any harm for us to call it a planet out of tradition even if we know it doesn't meet the criteria - no more than it does anyone harm to call a spider an insect.

Fair enough. Could make for some interesting conversations around the dinner table though.

Father - Pluto is a planet.
Son - s'not.
Father - yes it is.
Son - we learned in school today that it's not.
Father - It is, now go to your room.

Posting to stir stuff up.

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Friday, August 25, 2006 3:56 AM

FUTUREMRSFILLION

Does this mean that Mickey has to rename his dog?

----
I am on The List. We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

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Friday, August 25, 2006 3:58 AM