My Very Exciting Magic Carpet Just Sailed Under Nine Palace Elephants

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the validity and implications of a new mnemonic for remembering the order of planets and minor planets in the solar system, particularly in light of recent changes in planetary classification. Participants explore the historical context of mnemonics, the status of Pluto, and the evolving definitions of celestial bodies.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants reference a new mnemonic that lists planets and minor planets, questioning its validity after upcoming changes in planetary classification.
  • Others express nostalgia about the number of planets, noting that there are now more than they learned as children, and question the status of Pluto.
  • A participant mentions Eris and Ceres, expressing surprise at their classification as planets and questioning the rationale behind these decisions.
  • One participant clarifies that Pluto and similar bodies are classified as "minor planets," not full planets.
  • There is a discussion about the need for constant updates to mnemonics as new minor planets are discovered, with some expressing a preference for the finality of the current definition that limits the number of recognized planets to eight.
  • Another participant shares a personal mnemonic for the classic nine planets, while others reflect on their own methods of memorization.
  • One participant mentions a humorous mnemonic from a Monty Python song, though they express uncertainty about its accuracy.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of nostalgia, confusion, and humor regarding the changing definitions of planets and mnemonics. There is no clear consensus on the status of Pluto or the implications of the new mnemonic, indicating ongoing debate and differing perspectives.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the evolving nature of planetary classification and the potential for future discoveries to impact the definitions of planets and minor planets. There is an acknowledgment that the current definitions may lead to a proliferation of minor celestial bodies without changing the number of recognized planets.

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That's http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/space/02/27/planets.mnemonic.ap/index.html" of "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas". The new rhyme, which lists the planets and then minor planets in order in terms of distance from the Sun, was chosen as the winner of the winner of the National Geographic planetary mnemonic contest.

So, the question is, will this new rhyme be valid after "http://gpd.jhuapl.edu/" " commencing on August 14? A lot of people really, really like their educated mother. Might this new rhyme be just another a white elephant?
 
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Oh, crud, now I KNOW I'm old...there are two more planets than when I had to learn them as a kid! :cry: (I thought Pluto got a demotion though? Did they spring him from the dog pound and let him join the planets again?)
 
Eris? Wow, that's a new one to me! And Ceres is a planet now...well I'll be darned. It's smaller than our moon and its orbit isn't in the plane with the other planets...whose idea was it to promote it to planet status?
 
No, they're "minor planets," as is Pluto.

- Warren
 
Moonbear said:
Oh, crud, now I KNOW I'm old...there are two more planets than when I had to learn them as a kid! :cry:
The new rhyme lists the planets and the *known* minor planets. It will be in need of a constant upgrade as we discover ever more miscellaneous stuff beyond Pluto that fits the new definition of minor planets.
(I thought Pluto got a demotion though? Did they spring him from the dog pound and let him join the planets again?)
Pluto is still in the doghouse. Some of the participants in the "Great Planet Debate" at JHU/APL late this summer definitely want to spring Pluto from the doghouse. We'll see. I kind like the new definition. We will find no new "planets" in our solar system with this definition. There are only eight planets, period. There is something to be said for finality. We will find a lot of minor junk, no finality here. Which is fine; it's minor junk.
 
I like the sci fi term planetoid for minor planets.

The one I learned recently for the nine classic planets is " My very easy method just say your nine planets".

The your is as in modern text speak 'ur'.
 
I've never heard any of these, I just memorized the planets. :frown:

In music, though, I still remember "every good boy does fine"
 
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