How many planets

[LaMedicine]

In the solar system?
There's an international meeting of astronomers going on right now in Prague, and in a few hours, the definition of planets may change.
Depending on what is voted in, we are going to have anywhere from 8 planets to 12.
So, is Pluto going to sink into obscurity, or are we going to have to learn the names and orbits for 3 extra planets for our science test?lol
What are our kids going to be taught in the future? And as moms and dads, we'd better be on our toes lest our kids make us look like fools.

Oooh, the politics that are going on in space.

 

[Rosie]

I think they came to a decision on this a few days ago. http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=4459

My students and I did a study of the solar system a few years back we used these great materials given to me by the New Jersey Science Center and according to those materials, there may be as many as 15+ "planets" in our system that just aren't recognized, all interesting stuff to me.

 

[LaMedicine]

Actually, they didn't, and they're still at it now.
The vote should be going on about now.
At first, the news was for 12 planets, but apparently, the majority now is for 8 planets plus a group of plutons.
It's been in the news here for the last few days.lol

 

[Naama]

Funny, I didn't heard anything about that so far.... And usually, I'm not the one who's lacking info [huh]

Naama

 

[LaMedicine]

So, here's the edict.
Pluto's been voted out, and the solar system has 8 planets and a group of plutons.

 

[Twitch]

I would have called it a planetoid. Actually though, they consider planetoids the bodies orbiting the sun between Jupiter and Mars- asteroids. Pluto is a spherical body not mis-shapened like asteroids. They're calling is a sub-planet or dwarf planet now. Xena is larger so I assume they're still accepting it as an actual planet[huh]

 

[LolitaHaze]

What? Awww Pluto always gets the bad end of the deal... first he is concidered an evil devil, when in truth he is just a misunderstood grumpy old man who just happens to rule the underworld (that is both Tartarus and the Elysian Fields), then he only get's to see his wife 6 months out of the year, and now they take away his planet?! Sheesh... poor guy... :eusa_doh:

 

[LaMedicine]

What? Awww Pluto always gets the bad end of the deal... first he is concidered an evil devil, when in truth he is just a misunderstood grumpy old man who just happens to rule the underworld (that is both Tartarus and the Elysian Fields), then he only get's to see his wife 6 months out of the year, and now they take away his planet?! Sheesh... poor guy... :eusa_doh:

Lolita, I love you for your mushy heart.
Actually, I kind of sympathize with the astronomer (forgot his name) who discovered Pluto. Though his discovery of Pluto will still be on record, he isn't a planet discoverer any more.

 

[LolitaHaze]

Lolita, I love you for your mushy heart.
Actually, I kind of sympathize with the astronomer (forgot his name) who discovered Pluto. Though his discovery of Pluto will still be on record, he isn't a planet discoverer any more.

Sometimes my heart is my downfall! LOL
Very true... I didn't even think about the astronomer! I wonder if they will change the name of Pluto. Since all the planets are named after Roman Gods and Titans and Pluto is no longer a planet... [huh]

 

[Naama]

Lolita, I love you for your mushy heart.
Actually, I kind of sympathize with the astronomer (forgot his name) who discovered Pluto. Though his discovery of Pluto will still be on record, he isn't a planet discoverer any more.

lol Poor guy!
But, really, I think it's kind of a strange feeling, knowing that pluto is now no longer part of the game

Naama

 

[LolitaHaze]

I wonder if the Solar System models you had in school...

will be worth big money on Ebay! Hahahaha It's a piece of history now...

 

[Senator Jack]

People of Earth. Any attempt to reconfigure our solar system will result in your immediate annihilation. CONSIDER THIS YOUR LAST WARNING!!!

 

[Feraud]

Klaatu barada nikto

 

["Doc" Devereux]

Don't worry folks: first I'll take care of the evil undead monkey-thing from Boston, then I'll be straight onto the giant alien robot. Please try to remain calm in the meantime...

 

[jake431]

What? Awww Pluto always gets the bad end of the deal... first he is concidered an evil devil, when in truth he is just a misunderstood grumpy old man who just happens to rule the underworld (that is both Tartarus and the Elysian Fields), then he only get's to see his wife 6 months out of the year, and now they take away his planet?! Sheesh... poor guy... :eusa_doh:

I dunno, 6 months without his wife? try to find a guy who's been married a while who doesn't smile involuntarily at that thought.

 

[CharlieH.]

What? Awww Pluto always gets the bad end of the deal... first he is concidered an evil devil, when in truth he is just a misunderstood grumpy old man who just happens to rule the underworld (that is both Tartarus and the Elysian Fields), then he only get's to see his wife 6 months out of the year, and now they take away his planet?! Sheesh... poor guy... :eusa_doh:

You think that's bad? Being Mickey Mouse's much abused pet is no picnic!

 

[Jupiter]

Tombaugh, his name was Tombaugh...

Clyde Tombaugh was still just a fresh-faced kid when he was hired off of a Kansas farm by the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona to work on their "Planet X" program, which was the Observatory's search for a planet beyond Neptune. Early reports from Lowell Observatory didn't even mention his name as the one who put in thousands of hours under the stars photographing star fields and "blinking" the glass plates to find the darn thing. He wrote a WONDERFUL book about these adventures: _Out of the Darkness... the Planet Pluto_. It's full of great stories of his life in the 20s and 30s and would appeal to many of you on this Forum. My autographed copy holds an honored place on my bookshelf.

I spoke with Clyde shortly before he died about the "planet/not a planet" controversy surrounding Pluto. He found the whole thing amusing and couldn't have cared less about the outcome. He was a very nice man, very easy-going, and a great friend to many in the astronomical community.

I'm sure he's smiling today, in spite of the decision to demote Pluto.

Jupiter

 

[raiderrescuer]

Marvin says...

I must destroy Earth, it's obstructing my view of Venus !
Now, where did I put my Illudium PU-36 Explosive Space Modulator ???

 

[LolitaHaze]

You think that's bad? Being Mickey Mouse's much abused pet is no picnic!

I agree! I know my dogs wouldn't be pushed around by no mouse!

 

[LolitaHaze]

Klaatu barada nikto

It's an N word... It is DEFINATELY an N word!