Pluto chapter III
Pluto chapter III
Again the scientific community has decided (in their great wisdom) to recognise Pluto as a planet. I don't know why, but I can't wait to read the next chapter!!
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Re: Pluto chapter III
Pluto is still an planet even now, just a "dwarf planet" -- since others have been discovered in its neighborhood of similar size. Some NASA scientists are proposing changing the definition of planet -- but the IAU has the deciding vote.
One link to the story: http://www.space.com/35789-pluto-planet ... ition.html
Rebekah
One link to the story: http://www.space.com/35789-pluto-planet ... ition.html
Rebekah
Re: Pluto chapter III
Thanks for the info and the up dated material on a subject that constantly been in the new Jerry.
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Unitron 3 inch equatorial mount W/ tracking motor and tripod
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Re: Pluto chapter III
Well I've always found the "must clear its own neighborhood" a bit sketchy. If that was the case then Jupiter would never get hit with an asteroid or comet and we wouldn't be the least bit worried about an impact. But it does and we are, so they screwed that up. It's like they were trying too hard to be recognized or something.
"The purpose of life is the investigation of the Sun, the Moon, and the heavens." - Anaxagoras
Re: Pluto chapter III
This has always preplexed me. The definitation of any object in the cosmos is constantely under review because no sooner do we define an object than we find one that belongs and doesn't fit the criteria, thus a new catagory or in this case a re defination of all the same objects. It has now become clear that almost every star we examine has thousands if not millions of objects revolving aropund it. I take the "Bill Belliceck" approach. Pluto "is what it is".
Don
Don
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Re: Pluto chapter III
Great response !!!..
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"Ilagitami non carborundum" Uncle Nick '49
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Celestron #93709 next image solar system imager
Unitron 3 inch equatorial mount W/ tracking motor and tripod
Restored ED 102 Vixen ss Doublet
"Ilagitami non carborundum" Uncle Nick '49
Re: Pluto chapter III
I have to say that Pluto has one thing going against it. Pluto crosses Neptune's orbit, be it rare as it is the possibility of Neptune being close enough to one day capture or hurl Pluto out of its orbit makes it a non planet. If we consider Pluto a planet well then we have a bunch of other small rocky bodies out there that need to be considered planets. I grew up with Pluto being a planet, but with my understanding of astronomy now I can clearly see why its not a planet.
My understanding of the "must clear its own neighborhood" was just that. If an object does come within its neighborhood that it was capable of clearing it or absorbing it. It does not mean that an object can never approach the planets orbit. If that were case when Neptune and Pluto crossed orbits at close proximity Pluto would have to capture Neptune or absorb it and that's never going to happen. You can look this up online, I forgot where I read it. Someone did the math and many millions of years in the future Pluto and Neptune will cross close enough where Pluto will either be destroyed, captured or thrown from its orbit. What then? "well it was a planet and now it a moon or its part of Neptune's ring now."
My understanding of the "must clear its own neighborhood" was just that. If an object does come within its neighborhood that it was capable of clearing it or absorbing it. It does not mean that an object can never approach the planets orbit. If that were case when Neptune and Pluto crossed orbits at close proximity Pluto would have to capture Neptune or absorb it and that's never going to happen. You can look this up online, I forgot where I read it. Someone did the math and many millions of years in the future Pluto and Neptune will cross close enough where Pluto will either be destroyed, captured or thrown from its orbit. What then? "well it was a planet and now it a moon or its part of Neptune's ring now."
Paul...
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Re: Pluto chapter III
Does that mean Neptune hasn't cleared it's neighborhood and shouldn't be considered a planet either?
Bruce D
Re: Pluto chapter III
That means that if Pluto and Neptune come in close proximity that Pluto doesn't stand a chance. The "Clear the neighborhood" phrase simply means that nothing shares the same orbit without being apart from the planet. In other words Pluto shares its existing orbit with many other objects that are not gravitationally being held by Pluto. Many other objects follow that same orbit and plane as Pluto so it has not "Cleared its neighborhood" An object crossing another objects orbit is not considered "in the neighborhood."Bruce D wrote:Does that mean Neptune hasn't cleared it's neighborhood and shouldn't be considered a planet either?
Paul...
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Re: Pluto chapter III
I'm not sure how close the orbits actually get, they appear to intersect when the solar system is viewed from certain perspectives however Pluto's orbit is inclined with respect to Neptune's. I imagine over the past billions of years the 2 objects have already passed at close to the minimum proximity without calamity- unless Pluto is a new addition to the solar system
Bruce D