Pluto loses status as a planet

Post by **Norseman** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:08 pm

Maybe nothing of interest in Hua Hin, but big news for me.

Astronomers meeting in the Czech capital have voted to strip Pluto of its status as a planet.

About 2,500 experts were in Prague for the International Astronomical Union's (IAU) general assembly.

The scientists rejected a proposal that would have retained Pluto as a planet and brought three other objects into the cosmic club.

Pluto has been considered a planet since its discovery in 1930 by the American Clyde Tombaugh.

The ninth planet will now effectively be airbrushed out of school and university textbooks.

"The eight planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune," said the IAU resolution, which was passed following a week of stormy debate.

Professor Iwan Williams chaired the IAU working group that has been working over recent months to define the term "planet".

Read more here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5282440.stm?ls

Post by **Jimiherf** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:44 pm

I guess beer is way too cold over there ...

Post by **Guess** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 12:32 am

It is very interesting to me too. However it has raised more questions than it answers.

What pisses me off is why some much top grade human resource should be used on what is basically a pigeon holing execrcise.

Surely there are more important things these eggheads should be focussing their thought on on our own planet before wasting millions to decide on something so trivial as that. All we need to know is what size and density it is, how many moons it has and its orbital behaviour. I think we can then all decide for ourselves if we want to call it a planey or not.

Post by **Mart** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 12:51 am

I think we've spent far too long trying to discover the secrets of this planet. It's mainly inhabited by racist, bigoted, money obsessed twats! So where's the secret?

I say put Pluto back on the list and sack Earth.

mart

Post by **hogus** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 12:54 am

Will Pluto's new status have any effect on the predictions of Thai-magicians/astrologer?
May be good times begin for some superstitious politicians now, and make their future decisions more clear for everybody!?...who knows?

Post by **BaaBaa.** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:11 am

I wonder if He-Man:the master of the universe was consulted and how much say he had in this.

Post by **hogus** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:39 am

hmmm...I don't know about He-Man, but wasn't there the Greco-Roman god of the Underworld?
Is he homeless now?... have our Greece and Italian friends to renew their mythology?
...or have some scientists taken their selves a little bit too important again?

Post by **caller** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:44 am

Sounds like a Mickey Mouse story to me!

(Apologies to Norseman)

Post by **BaaBaa.** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:49 am

Caller. Quality.

Post by **STEVE G** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:18 am

What has been a big disappointment in this story is that if the decision had gone the other way a whole load of bodies with names that are straight from Star Trek, would have become planets. These could have included Quaoar, Ixion, Sedna, Varuna, and best of all, Xena 2003 UB313.

Post by **Guess** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:32 am

I believe Planet Wanderlust was on the list too.

Terry · Post by **Terry** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:56 am

Does this mean that Mickey's buddy is now a SOI DOG?

Post by **Jaime** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 3:02 am

Why not let the elephants decide?

No - let's send up four rockets, each one piloted by either a human, a cat, an elephant or a dolphin, for a closer look just to be sure. First one to Pluto and back gets to decide whether it's a planet or not and also wins the title of most intelligent animal on Earth.

This is, of course, just an expensive politically correct exercise to pander to the whims of the animalists. We all know that cats, elephants and dolphins can't fly space rockets for toffee.

Animals are rubbish and Humans are the best - be proud.

Post by **The understudy** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 3:56 am

The reason why Pluto is being denied the status of planet is that one Moon and two other Planets the same size or less then Pluto should also should been also clasified as Planets, The Pluto Moon Charon, and the other two "suppose" to be planets are Cedes and Xena which are in the close proximity to Pluto. Those 2800 Astronomists basically got rid of one Problem that causes tthree other problems. If Pluto is considered a Planet then other Astronomers who favors that Charon, Cedes and Xena should also be Planets too. By demoting Pluto the Status of a Planet we put him into another status with the other three "Planetiods" freeing us from much more Headaces and unhealthy discussions of which Planetoid should be a Planet or not!
Lets say if Pluto, Charon, Cedes and Xena get their Status asl Planets how in the world would we explain to our children (Ages 8 to 12) how those other three Planets came along diffrent from what they have learned in the Textbooks at school in science class.
The whole concept Horoscopy would change as well and Thai asronomers who can predict the fate of Politians/Persons have a much harder time wiht the consideration of the other three now Planetiods!!!

Greetings to ALL says The understudy!

Post by **splitlid** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 7:31 am

Jaime wrote:Why not let the elephants decide?

No - let's send up four rockets, each one piloted by either a human, a cat, an elephant or a dolphin, for a closer look just to be sure. First one to Pluto and back gets to decide whether it's a planet or not and also wins the title of most intelligent animal on Earth.

This is, of course, just an expensive politically correct exercise to pander to the whims of the animalists. We all know that cats, elephants and dolphins can't fly space rockets for toffee.

Animals are rubbish and Humans are the best - be proud.

recent history suggests humans are pretty shite at flying the buggers also......give the animals a go i say.