savepluto (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} savepluto) wrote,@ 2006-08-22 22:08:00 |
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Smoke-Filled Rooms
It used to be that only Chicago politicians made deals in the smoke-filled back rooms of their conventions.
To that list, we can now add astronomers.
According to the latest report on New Scientist Space, Astronomers lean toward eight planets, astronomers held a meeting "behind closed doors" in Prague on Tuesday and came up with a new draft resolution that demotes Pluto from its longtime status as a planet:
However, we shall not despair. Pluto may get to be called a "dwarf planet" or a "planetoid," meaning it will still have the word "planet" in its classification.
In other news, it appears that the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet now has a sworn enemy! Check out Demote Pluto! for an enjoyable read and a good laugh, but do NOT be swayed by the dark side of the gravitational force!
It used to be that only Chicago politicians made deals in the smoke-filled back rooms of their conventions.
To that list, we can now add astronomers.
According to the latest report on New Scientist Space, Astronomers lean toward eight planets, astronomers held a meeting "behind closed doors" in Prague on Tuesday and came up with a new draft resolution that demotes Pluto from its longtime status as a planet:
The crucial change in "draft c" is that a planet must be the dominant body in its orbital zone, clearing out any little neighbours. Pluto does not qualify because its orbit crosses that of the vastly larger Neptune....
It is still a work in progress, however, and the wording will change by Thursday in part to simplify it and make the final result more palatable to the public.
However, we shall not despair. Pluto may get to be called a "dwarf planet" or a "planetoid," meaning it will still have the word "planet" in its classification.
In other news, it appears that the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet now has a sworn enemy! Check out Demote Pluto! for an enjoyable read and a good laugh, but do NOT be swayed by the dark side of the gravitational force!
