Astronomy
- Two Unknown Planets Circling The Sun Beyond Pluto's Orbit.
A new study suggests that at least two more planets are circling the Sun far beyond Pluto?s orbit.The study was based on calculations of the gravitational influences, a large object would have on smaller. According to the calculations of researchers...
- Our Neighbors In Space
We have a special feeling toward the other planets that circle our sun. Maybe it?s all the science fiction stories about visiting the moon, Mars and other planets. But we love to think about those planets that make up what we call ?the solar...
- Eris
Eris Mass : ...
- Pluto
Pluto Mass ...
- Astronomy: Our Space Neighbors
We have a special feeling toward the other planets that circle our sun. Maybe it?s all the science fiction stories about visiting the moon, Mars and other planets. But we love to think about those planets that make up what we call ?the solar...
Astronomy
Pluto, a Plutoid
Pluto with its moons, Charon, S/2005 P1, and S/2005 P2
Image: NASA/ESA
About two years ago, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) made a big decision. There are going to be eight planets, and Pluto was not one. For Pluto, and also for Ceres and Eris, a new category was created. Pluto, Ceres, and Eris are now considered dwarf planets, a round celestial body orbiting the sun which has not cleared the area around its orbit. In addition,Image: NASA/ESA
dwarf planets cannot be satellites. However, on June 11, the IAU has made another decision.
Pluto is now also considered a plutoid. By the IAU's definition: "Plutoids are celestial bodies in orbit around the Sun at a semimajor axis greater than that of Neptune that have sufficient mass for their self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that they assume a hydrostatic equilibrium (near-spherical) shape, and that have not cleared the neighborhood around their orbit." Basically plutoids are dwarf planets that are outside the orbit of Neptune. This currently includes Pluto and Eris, but the IAU expects more planets to become plutoids in the future. There are already numerous objects that are candidates to become plutoids. However, this new categorization has not come without controversy.
The old decision to remove the planet status from Pluto was very cont
roversial, and many believe this new decision is just creating more disagreement. Some think that this is just creating more confusion, by introducing another term in the already big list of existing terms for the same outer solar system objects.
So, I am offering a question to you, the reader. Do you support the plutoid term? Vote on the poll on the sidebar at right. The poll will close on August 1, 2008, so vote now.
Update, Poll Results: With a total of six votes in the poll, three people supported the Plutoid and Dwarf Planet terms, while three other people preferred the original nine planets.
- Two Unknown Planets Circling The Sun Beyond Pluto's Orbit.
A new study suggests that at least two more planets are circling the Sun far beyond Pluto?s orbit.The study was based on calculations of the gravitational influences, a large object would have on smaller. According to the calculations of researchers...
- Our Neighbors In Space
We have a special feeling toward the other planets that circle our sun. Maybe it?s all the science fiction stories about visiting the moon, Mars and other planets. But we love to think about those planets that make up what we call ?the solar...
- Eris
Eris Mass : ...
- Pluto
Pluto Mass ...
- Astronomy: Our Space Neighbors
We have a special feeling toward the other planets that circle our sun. Maybe it?s all the science fiction stories about visiting the moon, Mars and other planets. But we love to think about those planets that make up what we call ?the solar...