[meteorite-list] Size Counts concerning Pluto?

[Larry Lebofsky]

Hi all:

I have been trying to stay out of the recent discussion until something really 
happens at the IAU. For me, I am concerned with it becoming too personal.

However, two things. When we (DPS) spoke to Rick Binzel last week, the IAU 
committee (Rick was on it) was concerned that world opinion would be that the 
US (ie Lowell Obs) would want to keep Pluto as a plane because is was 
discovered by an American.

Also, if you look at the original counterproposal (being the dominant object) 
which will get rid of Pluto as a planet, it was proposed by a group that 
included 2 from Uruguay, 5 from France, 2 Brazil, 3 Italy, 1 Chech., 1 
Argentina, 1 Mexico, 1 Russia, and 2 US. Not quite American dominated unless 
you mean (North and SOuth America).

Larry

PS OPINION: No matter what ends up being the science behind defining a planet 
(original definition gives us 5 since Earth was not a planet), Pluto, for 
historical reasons, should remain a planet. OPINION: dwarf planet is a stupid 
term and raises all sorts of misconceptions for kids, etc. Why not go with 
size-challenged to be politically correct?

Quoting drtanuki <drtanuki at yahoo.com>:

> Hello List,
>   It appears that the only reason for dropping poor
> Pluto from the list of planets is an American cultural
> bias in that SIZE COUNTS.  Pluto, as do the rest of
> the planets, orbits the Sun in a somewhat regular
> manner as a planet; therefore leave its classification
> alone.
>   Science may change the status of Pluto; but Pluto
> will still exist as it has without any concern of
> Man`s (new-school-biased? Astronomer`s) scheme of
> things. 
>   Sincerely, Pluto fan for  9.....Dirk Ross...Tokyo 
> 
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-- 
Dr. Larry A. Lebofsky
Senior Research Scientist
Co-editor, Meteorite                      "If you give a man a fish,   
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory               you feed him for a day.
1541 East University                       If you teach a man to fish,
University of Arizona                        you feed him for a lifetime."
Tucson, AZ 85721-0063                                     ~Chinese Proverb
Phone:  520-621-6947
FAX:    520-621-8364
e-mail: lebofsky at lpl.arizona.edu