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Pluto no longer considered a planet
#163968
08/24/06 11:04 AM
08/24/06 11:04 AM
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,453
California
XDCX
OP
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OP
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,453
California
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Don't know if anyone else will find this interesting...but I'll post it anyway.  From CNN.com PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) -- 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.
After a tumultuous week of clashing over the essence of the cosmos, the International Astronomical Union stripped Pluto of the planetary status it has held since its discovery in 1930. The new definition of what is -- and isn't -- a planet fills a centuries-old black hole for scientists who have labored since Copernicus without one.
Although astronomers applauded after the vote, Jocelyn Bell Burnell -- a specialist in neutron stars from Northern Ireland who oversaw the proceedings -- urged those who might be "quite disappointed" to look on the bright side.
"It could be argued that we are creating an umbrella called 'planet' under which the dwarf planets exist," she said, drawing laughter by waving a stuffed Pluto of Walt Disney fame beneath a real umbrella.
The decision by the prestigious international group spells out the basic tests that celestial objects will have to meet before they can be considered for admission to the elite cosmic club.
For now, membership will be restricted to the eight "classical" planets in the solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
Much-maligned Pluto doesn't make the grade under the new rules for a planet: "a celestial body that is in orbit around the sun, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a ... nearly round shape, and has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit."
Pluto is automatically disqualified because its oblong orbit overlaps with Neptune's.
Instead, it will be reclassified in a new category of "dwarf planets," similar to what long have been termed "minor planets." The definition also lays out a third class of lesser objects that orbit the sun -- "small solar system bodies," a term that will apply to numerous asteroids, comets and other natural satellites.
It was unclear how Pluto's demotion might affect the mission of NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, which earlier this year began a 91/2-year journey to the oddball object to unearth more of its secrets.
The decision at a conference of 2,500 astronomers from 75 countries was a dramatic shift from just a week ago, when the group's leaders floated a proposal that would have reaffirmed Pluto's planetary status and made planets of its largest moon and two other objects. (Watch why some think planet size doesn't matter -- 3:39)
That plan proved highly unpopular, splitting astronomers into factions and triggering days of sometimes combative debate that led to Pluto's undoing.
Now, two of the objects that at one point were cruising toward possible full-fledged planethood will join Pluto as dwarfs: the asteroid Ceres, which was a planet in the 1800s before it got demoted, and 2003 UB313, an icy object slightly larger than Pluto whose discoverer, Michael Brown of the California Institute of Technology, has nicknamed "Xena."
Charon, the largest of Pluto's three moons, is no longer under consideration for any special designation.
Brown was pleased by the decision. He had argued that Pluto and similar bodies didn't deserve planet status, saying that would "take the magic out of the solar system."
"UB313 is the largest dwarf planet. That's kind of cool," he said. It's Bush's fault. :p
"Growing up my dad was like 'You have a great last name, Galifianakis. Galifianakis...begins with a gal...and ends with a kiss...' I'm like that's great dad, can we get it changed to 'Galifianafuck' please?" -- Zach Galifianakis
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Re: Pluto no longer considered a planet
#163969
08/24/06 11:09 AM
08/24/06 11:09 AM
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,389
State Asylum
Snake
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,389
State Asylum
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Awww...poor little feller!  Well, in the scheme of things, what difference does it make anyway? Obviously that was the stance the astronomers took. And you're right, Don C...it is Bush's fault!
"Vaya con Dios, Castle. Go with God."
"God's going to sit this one out." The Punisher (2004)
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Re: Pluto no longer considered a planet
#163971
08/24/06 12:19 PM
08/24/06 12:19 PM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 295
Cincinnati, Oh
Don Alessandrio
Capo
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Capo
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 295
Cincinnati, Oh
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My childhood education is failing me again. I don't know if I can take it, Columbus didn't discover America, Pilgrims and Indians didn't sitdown and eat turkey and mashed potatoes, and now Pluto is not a planet. I am loading the shotgun now.
Business bad? Fuck you, pay me. Oh, you had a fire? Fuck you, pay me. Place got hit by lightning huh? Fuck you, pay me.
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Re: Pluto no longer considered a planet
#163975
08/24/06 06:57 PM
08/24/06 06:57 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 485
Mad Johnny
BANNED
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BANNED
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 485
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Yeah, those scientists are what gaming geeks become in adulthood. Take the most trivial thing, waste money on it, bitch each other out while the rest of the world doesn't care.
Officially the victim/target of the first and third Non-Aggression Pact attacks #2 is Fathersson # 4 is Double-J
Proud Member of the Gangster BB Bratpack - Fighting Elitism and Ignorance Since 2006
Double-J: may you serve us better from above, smile on from heaven
"Buh-Bye"
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Re: Pluto no longer considered a planet
#163976
08/24/06 08:27 PM
08/24/06 08:27 PM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 8,224
New Jersey
AppleOnYa
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 8,224
New Jersey
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This is bullshit. Completely unacceptable. Mercury, Venus, Earth Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune...  ...Pluto. From the day I was born I've been taught there were nine planets, Pluto is one of them, am right now looking at a poster on which Pluto is listed as the farthest planet from the sun, and as far as I'm concerned Pluto will ALWAYS be a planet, despite what any damn astronomer says. (And despite the fact that it DOES happen to more resemble a moon, but then so does Mercury.) Yaaayyyyy, PLUTO  AppleOnYa
A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government.
- THOMAS JEFFERSON
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Re: Pluto no longer considered a planet
#163977
08/24/06 09:27 PM
08/24/06 09:27 PM
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 31,285
New Jersey, USA
J Geoff
The Don
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The Don
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 31,285
New Jersey, USA
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Jiminy Cricket! These Mickey Mouse astronomers are just plain Goofy. Just because Pluto is a Minnie planet doesn't mean it isn't a planet! :rolleyes:
I studied Italian for 2 semesters. Not once was a "C" pronounced as a "G", and never was a trailing "I" ignored! And I'm from Jersey!  lol Whaddaya want me to do? Whack a guy? Off a guy? Whack off a guy? --Peter Griffin My DVDs | Facebook | Godfather Filming Locations
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Re: Pluto no longer considered a planet
#163979
08/25/06 03:25 AM
08/25/06 03:25 AM
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 31,285
New Jersey, USA
J Geoff
The Don
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The Don
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 31,285
New Jersey, USA
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No cause to blow milk out of your nose -- I was just filling in for SC! 
I studied Italian for 2 semesters. Not once was a "C" pronounced as a "G", and never was a trailing "I" ignored! And I'm from Jersey! lol Whaddaya want me to do? Whack a guy? Off a guy? Whack off a guy? --Peter Griffin My DVDs | Facebook | Godfather Filming Locations
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Re: Pluto no longer considered a planet
#163981
08/25/06 04:58 AM
08/25/06 04:58 AM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,206
Los Angeles
Letizia B.
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,206
Los Angeles
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You know, when I read JG's post, my first thought, even before laughing, was, "Damn, SC's gonna be pissed." You're outta your jurisdiction, JG!! SC, can you ban him? Is that possible?  It was funny, though. As was TB's comment on the green cheese. On Wallace and Gromit it's still made of cheese, though, isn't it? I believe they took a trip up there once.
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Re: Pluto no longer considered a planet
#163982
08/25/06 07:21 AM
08/25/06 07:21 AM
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,399
Top o' the World
Fame
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,399
Top o' the World
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Originally posted by Turnbull:
I can't tell you how devastated I am... :rolleyes: ...next they'll discover that the moon isn't made of green cheese. Sorry TB but you are El Wrongo. The moon IS made out of cheese! (tho not sure if its green) Need I remind you what Neil Armstrong said : "One small bite for man, One giant leap for nutrition" JG- that post of yours was not as funny as it is brilliant. Truly amazing post!Take a bow! So Pluto is a Dwarf Planet. Who are the other 6 then? And I guess Snow White is the Moon?
"Come out and take it, you dirty, yellow-bellied rat, or I'll give it to you through the door!"
- James Cagney in "Taxi!" (1932)
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