Is Pluto Really Not a Planet Anymore?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the status of Pluto as a planet, exploring the implications of its reclassification and the criteria used for defining planets. Participants share personal reflections, comparisons to other celestial bodies, and humorous takes on the topic.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express dissatisfaction with the decision to reclassify Pluto, likening it to other instances of changing scientific understanding, such as the evolution of dinosaurs.
  • Others argue for maintaining a distinction between major planets and dwarf planets, suggesting that the solar system should ideally have only eight major planets.
  • A few participants humorously suggest that Pluto's demotion could be seen as a promotion to a more significant status within the Kuiper Belt.
  • Concerns are raised about the clarity of the term "dwarf planet," with some suggesting that it implies Pluto is still a type of planet, which could be misleading.
  • One participant mentions the discovery of Eris as a significant factor in the decision to define dwarf planets, noting its mass relative to Pluto.
  • There are discussions about the Earth/Moon system potentially being classified as a binary planet system in the future, contingent on the center of gravity moving outside of Earth.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally do not reach a consensus, as multiple competing views remain regarding Pluto's status and the definitions of planets. Some express acceptance of the reclassification, while others remain critical or humorous about the implications.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved issues regarding the definitions of planets and dwarf planets, particularly concerning the criteria for clearing orbits and the implications of terminology used in classifications.

  • #31
Mech_Engineer said:
I think the discovery of Eris was a major deciding factor in the decision to define "dwarf planets." Eris is estimated 27% more massive than Pluto, so if Pluto was a planet Eris would have to be one too...



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eris_(dwarf_planet )

hmmm...

so A-E-I-O-U and sometimes Y (and W?)

and M-V-E-M-J-S-U-N and sometimes Pluto (and Eris?)
 
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  • #32
Vagn said:
Wouldn't it make more sense for the whole phrase "dwarf planet" to be a noun in its own right, as is suggested by the Oxford Dictionary of English? Perhaps this would clearer if it was hyphenated.
You're probably right about that. But really, I rest my case. It's not incorrect, I think, just confusing to the general public. I don't like having to explain to people why a dwarf planet is not, in fact, a planet even though the word is right in there. It should be totally unnecessary.

That said, I'm not really losing sleep over it.
 
  • #33
Grep said:
That said, I'm not really losing sleep over it.

Yeah, but now I am! There's a grammatical nightmare afoot.
 
  • #34
FlexGunship said:
Yeah, but now I am! There's a grammatical nightmare afoot.
:bugeye: :smile:
 
  • #35
It's a red herring. Neither red, nor herring.
 
  • #36
Jimmy Snyder said:
It's a red herring. Neither red, nor herring.

Where?! *gets frying pan and oil*
 
  • #37
Chi Meson said:
Sedna? Haumea?

Quaoar!

How can you deny a dwarfie named Quaoar?!

True...but Quaoar only has a cool name, Sedna has a pretty orbit and Haumea is beautifully oval:biggrin:
kuiper.jpg

look at that sexy thing!:-p
 
  • #39
Chi Meson said:
Here's a nice composite of the largest TNOs:
I hadn't realized until now that the Earth is trans-Neptunian.
 
  • #40
HeLiXe said:
kuiper.jpg

look at that sexy thing!:-p

I think I am too old. It doesn't look sexy to me.
 
  • #41
Borek said:
I think I am too old. It doesn't look sexy to me.
You're not too old, you're just spoiled by Marzena.
 
  • #42
Jimmy Snyder said:
I hadn't realized until now that the Earth is trans-Neptunian.

And the largest!
 
  • #43
Borek said:
This is ridiculous. How can a dog be a planet.

Well, if you feed it enough...
 
  • #44
Borek said:
I think I am too old. It doesn't look sexy to me.
Perhaps you're more of a spherical guy?
 
  • #46
HeLiXe said:
True...but Quaoar only has a cool name, Sedna has a pretty orbit and Haumea is beautifully oval:biggrin:
kuiper.jpg

look at that sexy thing!:-p
It looks like an ostrich egg.
 
  • #47
Pluto is no longer a planet?

What's next: you going to tell me that Cruithne is no longer our moon?
 
  • #48
Astronuc said:
It looks like an ostrich egg.
>_> Now what am I supposed to say...if I agree, everyone will think I find ostrich eggs sexy!
Gokul43201 said:
What's next: you going to tell me that Cruithne is no longer our moon?

NO WAY! I never knew about this! Thanks Gokul, this completely blew my mind tonight.
 

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