[meteorite-list] 'Plutons' Push Planet Total Up To 12

[Chris Peterson]

Loonie indeed.

It doesn't matter how they vote, the IAU simply doesn't have the 
authority to define "planet" (they aren't the Académie française, after 
all <g>). IMO they are fools for attempting to do so, as there is no 
need for a technical definition. The ordinary users of English (and 
other languages) have long since decided what the planets are- and that 
they don't include Ceres (with its own history), nor Charon, nor any big 
iceballs floating around in peculiar orbits far, far beyond Pluto.

At most, this will cause a few authors of technical papers to adjust 
their jargon- and I'm not even sure of that.

Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sterling K. Webb" <sterling_k_webb at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Sterling K. Webb" <sterling_k_webb at sbcglobal.net>; "Ron Baalke" 
<baalke at zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>; "Meteorite Mailing List" 
<meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2006 12:58 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] 'Plutons' Push Planet Total Up To 12


>    The IAU proposal for 12 planets is as follows:
> 1. Ceres 'cause it's big and round and orbits the Sun,
> 2. 2003UB313 ("Xena") 'cause it's big and round and orbits the Sun,
> 3. Charon, Pluto's Moon, 'cause it's big and round and orbits the Sun
> and constitutes along with Pluto a DOUBLE PLANET system!
>
>    All other planetary bodies have to apply for membership
> and present credentials, at some future date.
>
>    Still think the vote's a toss-up.
>
>    I predict the IAU will get some really nasty letters from the
> Luna City Chamber of Commerce, demanding the the Earth-Moon
> System be recognized as a DOUBLE PLANET, since it meets
> all the criteria applied to Pluto-Charon System.
>
>    Those guys up there are, well, Loonie...