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

[Dawn & Gerald Flaherty]

Thanks for keeping us apprised Sterling. Jerry Flaherty
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sterling K. Webb" <kelly at bhil.com>
To: "Meteorite List" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2005 12:51 AM
Subject: [meteorite-list] IAU SPEAKS OUT ON 2003 UB313 PLANET STATUS


> 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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