Pluto, your bets?

Torpedo Fodder · 01-23-06, 02:05 AM

It's interesting to note that there is precedent for "demoting" celestial bodies from the status of Planet. The first 4 asteroids to be discovered (1-Ceres, 2-Pallas, 3-Juno and 4-Vesta) were initially classified as planets, and retained that designation for half a century until more asteroids were discovered, and the concept of the Asteroid Belt was accepted. Pluto was discovered before the Kuiper Belt was discovered, and in light of the discovery of Trans-Neptunian Objects nearly as large or larger than Pluto (Sedna and 2003 UB313, for instance), it's time to that Pluto is no longer considered a planet. If 2003 UB313 isn't a planet, then neither is Pluto.

01-23-06, 02:05 AM	#11
Torpedo Fodder Ensign Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Whitby, Ontario Posts: 234 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	It's interesting to note that there is precedent for "demoting" celestial bodies from the status of Planet. The first 4 asteroids to be discovered (1-Ceres, 2-Pallas, 3-Juno and 4-Vesta) were initially classified as planets, and retained that designation for half a century until more asteroids were discovered, and the concept of the Asteroid Belt was accepted. Pluto was discovered before the Kuiper Belt was discovered, and in light of the discovery of Trans-Neptunian Objects nearly as large or larger than Pluto (Sedna and 2003 UB313, for instance), it's time to that Pluto is no longer considered a planet. If 2003 UB313 isn't a planet, then neither is Pluto. __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum - If you want peace, prepare for war. "Those who turn their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't"