I don't remember how that subclass of stellar bodies is called, but I believe we have some problems on it, since we are finding bodies that would fit in both Planet and... Subplanet (Dwarf Planets?) classes. I mean, Pluto is said to be ex-moon of Uranus or Neptune that gained its own orbit behind. I mean, due to that orbit I would even classify it as a rogue planet that was caught into Sun's gravitational field.
Whatever it is, Pluto is still there. It is like saying that Europe (Jovian moon) is a planet, because it is as big as Mercury (or even bigger, am I right on this one?)
(10-01-2014, 02:06 PM)Toji-Haku Wrote: It is like saying that Europe (Jovian moon) is a planet, because it is as big as Mars (or even bigger, am I right on this one?)
No, Mars is bigger than any moon in the Solar system. Only moons larger than a planet are Titan (5150 km) and Ganymede (5262 km). And this planet is Mercury (4880 km) Europa is as small as our, Earth's Moon.
Also, I would keep Pluto as dwarf planet. How many planets would the Solar system have if we counted all spherical bodies in the Kuiper belt? There is big chance we will discover other Pluto sized objects there.. So, 15, 20, 30? I am ok with 8 planets only.
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(10-01-2014, 02:06 PM)Toji-Haku Wrote: It is like saying that Europe (Jovian moon) is a planet, because it is as big as Mars (or even bigger, am I right on this one?)
No, Mars is bigger than any moon in the Solar system. Only moons larger than a planet are Titan (5150 km) and Ganymede (5262 km). And this planet is Mercury (4880 km) Europa is as small as our, Earth's Moon.
Also, I would keep Pluto as dwarf planet. How many planets would the Solar system have if we counted all spherical bodies in the Kuiper belt? There is big chance we will discover other Pluto sized objects there.. So, 15, 20, 30? I am ok with 8 planets only.
Oh my, props to you - I was thinking about Mercury and ended up with Mars. Fix'd.
Addendum, Pluto cannot be Planet. I've read that there's a dwarf planet between Jupiter and Mars, forgot the name, bigger than Pluto and Charon.
Go with Bode's Law! Ceres is a planet; Pluto is not!
"You see what your knowledge tells you you're seeing. ... how, what you think the universe is, and how you react to that in everything you do, depends on what you know. And when that knowledge changes, for you, the universe changes. And that is as true for the whole of society as that is for the individual. We all are what we know, today. What we knew yesterday, was different; and so were we."
- James Burke, The Day the Universe Changed (1985)
Misleading title. The audience of a debate voted that Pluto is a planet. There have been scores of popular votes since it was demoted in 2006, but nothing has happened.