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New Planet Found Is Larger Than Pluto

I think it's inevitable that we will find dozens, if not hundreds, of these. We already know of others similar in size to Pluto, and, given the vast distances, relatively small sizes, and hence the difficulty in finding them, I'm sure many more have yet to be found - this one's bigger than Pluto, and we just found it.

I'm all for being sentimental, but I think we should set the number of planets to eight, not nine, and group Pluto and these others into some other category, perhaps more than just "Kuiper Belt objects" but less than planets.

Either that, or have a URL to the current number of planets, which could grow often as more of these are found. "How many planets are there in the solar system, Susie?" "One second... I'm opening my browser... there are 14 of them, Teacher! No, wait, 15! Yes, 15! Er... I mean 16...."
 
Haven't we talked about this one before? In any case, it will be interesting to see what name they give it.

And think of all the school books that could now need to be updated with this new information. Or, as jsw says, perhaps better to simply update it all electronically.

As far as not making them all planets - that's a tough one. First we need to define what a "planet" is - something that is yet to be done with any degree of objectivity, it seems. If we have a well-defined tolerance, say x miles in diameter with a regular orbit or something, then it would be a simple matter to include or not to include them. Right now, there is no such distinction.
 
The orbits of these planets always fascinate me. I don't understand how it is possible for them to remain in orbit (generally in a very elliptical shape), when they are so far from the gravitational pull of the sun. :confused:
 
There's a bunch of competitors. It'll be interesting what the IAU decides (apparently this month?) about what the definition of a planet is. What amazes me is how similar the first five of these objects are. Fairly similar sizes and orbits. Sedna and Xena are pretty different. And obviously Ceres is (204 year-) old news and pretty much agreed that it's not a planet.

name (min dist to sun, max distance from sun, orbital period, diameter)

Pluto (29.7, 49.3, 248.1, 2306)
Orcus (30.9, 48.1, 247.9, est. 840-1880)
Santa (35.2, 51.5, 285.4, est. 1500)
Quaoar (41.9, 44.9, 286.0, est 989-1346)
Easter Bunny (38.7, 52.6, 308, est 1600-2000)
Xena (37.8, 97.6, 557, est 3000)
Sedna (76.2, 975, 12050, est 1180-1800)
Ceres (2.5, 2.8, 4.6, 950)
 
Blue Velvet said:
All the astrologers sure predicted this one.
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They didnt predict the discovery of Pluto in 1930.........

....or Neptune for that matter in 1846......Or Uranus in 1781 lol.
 
Mr. Anderson said:
More fuel for the fire in the planet debate. Makes me wonder if we won't find 100s of these things.
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And therein lies the problem. It's not even as big as our moon. It's not a planet, and neither is Pluto. But Pluto is by a flaw in history. Why can't we say there are 9 planets, and all the rest planetoids?
This whole thing is silly.
 
Blue Velvet said:
All the astrologers sure predicted this one.
Click to expand...

What about the astronomers?

I'm surprised we haven't seen a lot more in the solar system. Of course, how many more moons were discovered by a close up visit from a probe? Several, it seems.
 
The exciting thing about all this to me is that the reality is so much more complex and interesting than the simple model we all learned in elementary school. Nine planets sounds nice, most with however many moons, but the fact is there is a lot a fascinating variety. Obviously, Jupiter and Mercury have much less in common than do Mercury and most of the potential planets I listed above, yet both are "planets". I think we need some new terms here.
 
They just revolve at a different rate

max_altitude said:
The orbits of these planets always fascinate me. I don't understand how it is possible for them to remain in orbit (generally in a very elliptical shape), when they are so far from the gravitational pull of the sun. :confused:
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It just takes longer to get around the sun. THink about the Galaxy as a whole, the whole set of spiral arms is one system due to gravity, even at MUCH greater distances.
 
Mr. Anderson said:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/space/02/01/tenth.planet/index.html

More fuel for the fire in the planet debate. Makes me wonder if we won't find 100s of these things.

D
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Nooooooooo! I had a cool mnemotecnic method to remember the 9 planets (in French):

Mercredi Viendras-Tu Manger Avec Jean Sur Un Naperon Propre?
(Will you come and eat with John on Wednesday on a clean table-cloth? :p :p)

Mars, Venus, Earth (Terre), asteroird, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, & Pluto.
 
Not only should Pluto be "demoted", but Jupiter as well. It's a gas ball, a star that didn't quite spark off. Hardly what I'd call a planet.

But that brings Saturn into some question, as well.

OK, so now we're at five, six if the IAU accepts the new one.

Or 42, if we look hard enough.
 
Blue Velvet said:
All the astrologers sure predicted this one.
Click to expand...

Kind of off-topic, but...I don't get how astrologers can remain in business.

Athiests/evolutionists should think the concept is just plain silly.
Christians should know what the Bible says about astrologers.
Jewish people should have read the same things from the Old Testament.
Muslims IIRC have similar beliefs.

So who listens to/believes astrologers, if neither Athiests or Christians should? Especially in the U.S.? Confused people?
 
JohnNotBeatle said:
Not only should Pluto be "demoted", but Jupiter as well. It's a gas ball, a star that didn't quite spark off. Hardly what I'd call a planet.

But that brings Saturn into some question, as well.

OK, so now we're at five, six if the IAU accepts the new one.

Or 42, if we look hard enough.
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Of, course, Pluto has been demoted already. Good. Bastardly little punk always screwing with us...;)
 
All objects out beyond Neptune are minor planets by definition. (at least for now) I thought I'd clearify a fact. However, this is a class of planet, so calling the new object a planet is not actually wrong. It confuses me a bit, since I'm not well versed in this area other than what I see on TV or read on the web. I'll stay tuned for further devlopments.
 
GFLPraxis said:
Kind of off-topic, but...I don't get how astrologers can remain in business.

Athiests/evolutionists should think the concept is just plain silly.
Christians should know what the Bible says about astrologers.
Jewish people should have read the same things from the Old Testament.
Muslims IIRC have similar beliefs.

So who listens to/believes astrologers, if neither Athiests or Christians should? Especially in the U.S.? Confused people?
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Hippies. And not the nice, friendly, drum circle sort of hippies. Crystal toting new-age hippies. *Shudder*
 
Would it ever be possible that there is a planet with the same orbital speed as Earth's and it travels in a a way that its always blocked by the sun? Just a random thought while reading this thread.
 
one day we may contact other more advanced civilizations, and they will tell us that what we call Earth is not a planet because there's too much methane in the atmosphere. According to widely accepted intergalactic standards Earth is a "Schmordbl" and not a planet.
 
Jopling said:
Would it ever be possible that there is a planet with the same orbital speed as Earth's and it travels in a a way that its always blocked by the sun? Just a random thought while reading this thread.
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No. Think about that for a second. You realize earth is not the only vantage point, right? Orbiting Satellites would have found that. Other various objects/planets have blocked views in the distance but the sun blocking views of planets in our own solar system - I'm afraid that isn't possible.
 
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