[meteorite-list] IAU SPEAKS OUT ON 2003 UB313 PLANET STATUS

[Sterling K. Webb]

Elton, List

    It was suggested that Pluto be given Minor Planet
Number 100,000 by the those who wished to "demote"
yet honor Pluto. The IAU rejected the suggestion in
favor of not doing anything, always a wise decision for
a beaurocracy, and one the IAU is especially good at.


Sterling Webb
------------------------------------------------------------
"E. L. Jones" wrote:

> Greetings,
>
> Wasn't Pluto given dual status a few years back when it was facing
> demotion. I thought in addition to the 9th planet it was assigned KBO
> 1000...right? wrong?  partially right?
>
> Elton
>
> Sterling K. Webb wrote:
>
> >Hi,
> >
> >    The IAU has made an official announcement
> >on the question of whether or not 2003 UB313
> >IS or IS NOT a planet:
> ><http://www.iau.org/IAU/FAQ/2003_UB313.html>
> >
> >    Wise beaurocrats, they have decided NOT
> >to decide FOR NOW.
> >
> >    "The discovery of 2003 UB313 has precipitated
> >the need for such a definition in order to decide
> >whether 2003 UB313 is to be classified as a planet
> >or not. Until then the object will not be given an
> >official name by the IAU."
> >
> >    Discover Brown's web site says:
> >
> >    "We have recently discussed the status of
> >the object and of the name with members of the
> >IAU who decide such things. As far as we can
> >determine several activities are taking place:
> >A special committee of the International
> >Astronomical Union (IAU)is trying to decide
> >precisely what to classify this as.
> >    Another committee of the IAU which vets
> >names for asteroids and Kuiper belt objects is
> >mulling over the name that we suggested upon
> >discovery.
> >    Yet another committee of the IAU which approves
> >names for features on major planets and
> >satellites has suggested that if the object
> >is declared a major planet the naming falls
> >strictly to them, and they have suggested that
> >the name should continue the Greco-Roman
> >tradition of the previous planets.
> >    We have a couple of interesting choices
> >in mind in that case."
> >
> >    All things in time...
> >
> >
> >Sterling K. Webb
> >
> >
> >
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> >
> >
> >