The astronomical world has spoken: we only have eight planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Pluto, considered a planet since its discovery in 1930, is now known as a dwarf planet, along with many similar objects discovered in recent years. A proposal to name them “plutonian objects” was rejected.
The really small stuff, like asteroids and comets, are now officially classified as “small solar system bodies”.
There will undoubtedly be quite a bit of resistance from the general public. The astronomers at the IAU conference are aware of that (in fact, public support for Pluto as a planet is one reason it took several years to agree on a new definition), and I’m glad they didn’t let it get in the way. It’s science that should tell us what a planet is, not the people on the streets.
Thursday, August 24, 2006 at 18:23 |
What a disappointment! This is a nightmare. What is the difference if it’s a planet or not? Science is overrated, especially if it comes to these kind of decisions made by hundreds of people spending taxpayer dollars. To think that there isn’t really a definition of a planet. So why not leave it as is…
Friday, August 25, 2006 at 08:44 |
Science overrated? Imagine what the world would look like if it wasn’t for science.
If it makes you feel any better in this case, the (re)definition of the word “planet” was only one agenda item in a ten-day conference. It’s not like all those hundreds of astronomers got together just to debate whether Pluto is a planet or not.
Saturday, July 7, 2007 at 14:56 |
I suspect that Pluto knows what it is outside of any definition human beings give it. Science sometimes explains how creation works to the masses, becoming a double edged sword capable of both beauty and damage. Life existed and exists and shall continue to exist outside of human control or explanation. Life Is. We’re such a small part of it. What we know or don’t know changes and evolves as our discoveries often contradict and rewrite themselves.
Respect for All is what matters wether we are scientists, artists or dustbin collectors (the latter being by far the most usefull of jobs, if we want to think about it practically); as long as our intention is respect it’s all good: let’s not let that fact be forgotten by getting on our high horses about how we attempt to organize our understandings.