Pluto

[muscadine]

All the news sources are making a big deal about Pluto no longer being a planet, but last time I checked a "dwarf planet" was still...a planet. Dwarf stars are still stars. ISTM they have expanded the definition of planet, just in a different way than expected.

Also, if the supposed reason Pluto isn't a planet is that it crosses Neptune's orbit...why is Neptune a planet? It crosses Pluto's orbit. Is it then implied that whichever one is larger is the planet?

Comments

[aethucyn.livejournal.com]

Because Neptune's orbit corresponds to the orbits of the other planets. Pluto's does not.

[legolastn.livejournal.com]

That would make sense except that AFAIK that is nowhere mentioned in the new definition of planets.

[zen-pop-culture.livejournal.com]

Apparently size does matter.

Pluto, you will always be a planet to me.

[lady-elsinore.livejournal.com]

See I wondered that too and figured it was due to the fact that Neptune's orbit is in the plane of the ecliptic, but I noticed that piece wasn't in the new definition, so I'm thinking they already need to clarify. I don't care if Pluto's a planet, minor planet, planetoid, dwarf planet, or Kuiper Belt Object; it's all just symmantics. But they were aiming for a more easily applied, consistent definition, and the "has cleared its orbit" piece isn't completely clear given the case of Neptune and Pluto. I mean gee, Neptune obviously hasn't cleared its orbit of Pluto...

[feelmymoment.livejournal.com]

What I don't understand is why anyone really cares. Pluto's not going anywhere, planet or not (or dwarf planet, I guess).

[legolastn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's another thought I've had. We've had some of the best minds in the world trying to decide whether to call Pluto and a few other icy rocks a planet or a dwarf planet? Is that really the best we can do?

[c-smudge.livejournal.com]

it's not size, it is eccentricity and inclination. plutos curves too much to the right and is therefore not a real penis, er planet

[legolastn.livejournal.com]

Apparently some of the scientists noticed this as well and...apparently it was all dirty politics to come up with this definition. Hilarious, and yet unsurprising.