solar system gets smaller

[hotfoot]

From the Trib:

"Leading astronomers declared Thursday that Pluto is no longer a planet under historic new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight ..."

So I'm guessing our public schools will run out and replace last year's science textbooks with new, up-to-date ones that reflect the change.

[007]

Actually, I think I heard last week that they just discovered 3 new planets, so the overall net gain is two new planets...

[slam]

no, the new ones won't be called planets. that was the problem, though. some of the new ones were about the same size as pluto, so if pluto is a planet, why shouldn't they be?

so, instead of deciding to keep adding more and more planets as we find them, they redefined planet, and pluto lost out.

one less thing to learn in grade school!

[007]

Who knows anything anymore? How can media report three new planets, then one week later actually decide to downgrade an existing planet? Ah, science.

Everything's a planet!
Wait.
Nothing's a planet!
Let's call the whole thing off.

[slam]

well, the media can call whatever they want anything they please.

i listen to the scientists.

Science has Spoken!

[JVO]

Unfortunatley, I have the feeling Scientists don't know what in the hell they are talking about a vast majority of the time.

Pluto screwed up astrology anyway so screw it.

[False Alarm]

looks like the proposal to expand from 9 to 12 planets (and retain pluto) was expected to pass but didn't.

aug 16:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0608160229aug16,1,736943.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

Astronomers from around the world are scheduled to vote on the new definition Aug. 24 at the IAU's meeting in Prague. It would constitute the first official recognition of new planets since Pluto's discovery in 1930.

Gingerich [who proposed expanding to 12 planets -FA] said Tuesday he already has received backing from 10 of the group's division chairmen. Although there's nothing binding about the vote, the IAU is considered the world's authoritative source on the naming of heavenly bodies.

aug 18:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20060818/sc_space/plutomaygetdemotedafterall

The effort to define the term "planet" took a fresh twist today as two competing proposals were put forth at a meeting of astronomers in Prague.


In one case, Pluto would be demoted to "dwarf planet" status, which would mean it would not be a real planet at all.


Astronomers are split down the middle on the issue.


and of course now we know how the vote turned out.

[Ag Au]

goodby planet pluto. been nice knowing ya. :cry:

[mrjohnchimpo]

what makes an astronomer "leading" ? do they have to discover a new planet?

[Padrote]

http://img383.imageshack.us/img383/1290/plutodh2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[notorious]

for those of you from back in the day....

i hate space

[Lori Burger]

Pluto's been reclassified as a dwarf planet, and isn't even the biggest of the three (according to the most reputable newpaper ever - The Baltimore Sun :p ). Apparently the largest one is pretty much a huge chunk of ice...

[MsAnthrope]

So what's the new mnemonic?
I always remembered "Many Volcuanoes Erupt Mulberry Jam Sandwiches Under Normal Pressure."
I suppose it doesn't really make sense in the first place, so if I just drop pressure it's no biggie.

[Diamond Vision]

How about: "Many Vulvas Enjoy Massages," Judy Said, Under Nancy.

In all seriousness, I think we should continue to reduce the numbers of planets we have until we're the only one left. Surely it wouldn't be too terribly hard to break enough pieces off of Venus so it wouldn't count anymore...