[meteorite-list] OT: HOW MANY PLANETS?

[MexicoDoug at aol.com]

Darren G. wrote:

>if a KBO were to be brought in to 1 AU, would it still  be
>concidered a planet?  What about a few years later when 
>half (give or take) of it had sublimated
>away and left nothing  but a ring of rubble?
 
Great balls of Fire!  Meteorite heaven and a lot of new iridium  stratigraphy 
to work out, though Ron might not be as upbeat about the whole  proposition 
worrying about finding some high ground to store his meteorites  just before 
the potential for another great terrestrial deluge:)
 
Darren, if we swapped Uranus with Earth something similar to what you  
envision might happen to Uranus at 1 AU as well...though your point is a good  one 
to mull over...
 
PS I got a private message complaining that "having an atmosphere" was too  
subjective a criterion to define a planet.  I agree, bad choice.  The  revised 
definition is "or its atmosphere gives rise to visible meteors  when colliding 
with cometary dust."  I.e., there is something for meteor  observers and 
meteorite hunters to do.
 
Saludos, Doug