New Mars Forums

Josh Cryer

Moderator

Registered: 2001-09-29

Posts: 3,830

Re: I thnx that we should talk about PLUTO - Pluto discussion

Hmm, didn't see your reply CalTech2010. Hey, I agree that we need to make science understandable to the average person. This is why we should create simple standards for planets and other objects in the sky. Asteroids are generally small metallic or rocky objects in the inner solar system and KBO's are generally small icey objects that are in the far outer solar system. Neither class of planetoids are generally on the orbital plane. Planets, however, are large and are on the orbital plane.

Very simple, very concise. Very understandable to the average person. Now, just tell an average person, after giving them those simple definitions, why Pluto is a planet and not a KBO. Talk about confusing.

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Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
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The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

CalTech2010

Member

From: United States, Colorado

Registered: 2002-11-23

Posts: 433

Re: I thnx that we should talk about PLUTO - Pluto discussion

I completely agree about having simple standards.  I don't really care whether or not Pluto is a planet or not, but I hope that the decision about its status is determined by solid scientific evidence found by a Pluto fly-by, or other mission.

The New Horizons (?) mission to Pluto and the Kupier Belt should set the record straight once and for all.  However, its not even supposed to launch until 2006, and won't flyby until 2015 or 2016.  I'll be 27 or 28 by then, and I really don't want to argue about Pluto's status until then.  I just think that we shouldn't change it yet because it would confuse people unnecessarily, just so that scientists can make some petty rearrangement of the solar system.

Cool posts so far... we need more controversy.   Maybe if we found out that Pluto was really just a speck in Clyde Tombaugh's telescope...    That'd make for some REALLY tiny Eskimos!

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"Some have met another fate.  Let's put it this way... they no longer pose a threat to the US or its allies and friends." -- President Bush, State of the Union Address

Josh Cryer

Moderator

Registered: 2001-09-29

Posts: 3,830

Re: I thnx that we should talk about PLUTO - Pluto discussion

Oh, and BTW, sure, ?planet? is related, quite directly, to ?wanderer,? but it has roots in floor and plane, too. I suspect that Greek models of the solar system may have contributed to that, since they had all the planets on the same plane.

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Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
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The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

CalTech2010

Member

From: United States, Colorado

Registered: 2002-11-23

Posts: 433

Re: I thnx that we should talk about PLUTO - Pluto discussion

I thought they had planets in rotating spheres...

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"Some have met another fate.  Let's put it this way... they no longer pose a threat to the US or its allies and friends." -- President Bush, State of the Union Address