Poor Pluto: Ousted from the planet family

[Haltickling]

An astronomers' conference decided today on a general definition of planets, for the first time in history. They defined criteria for three different categories of solar objects, depending on size and orbit: planets, dwarf planets, and minor objects (asteroids and comets).

Unfortunately, Pluto no longer matches the criteria for planets. It's too small, and the orbit is too eccentric for a real planet, so it was downgraded to the status "dwarf planet", which it shares with a dozen other objects.

So from now on, our solar system has only 8 planets, per astronomic definition. All school books will have to be reprinted!

 

[milagros317]

Pluto? Isn't he Mickey Mouse's pet dog? 😛 😛

 

[Feathery]

The sign Scorpio was originally ruled by Mars before the discovery of Pluto... I wonder if astrologers will go back to that now?

 

[kered]

Those astronomy changing sons of bitches!!

 

[MrPartickler]

They're flip-floppers!

 

[alchemy]

Maybe now they'll name it what it should have been named long long ago...

Planet X

 

[TicklishLurker]

I heard a rumor that Pluto might be the moon of a planet just a bit beyond it.

Still, Pluto, know in my heart of hearts, you'll always be a planet to me.

Though they should've used the Greek god names so you'd be called Hades.

 

[Capnmad]

Well, technically, it's a "dwarf planet". Does this mean that all the textbooks will have to be changed except the textbooks of dwarves? 😕

 

[steph]

oh MY God!

Does anyone but me think the folks involved in this have WAY too much time on their hands? I mean, go cure cancer or something, what the hell!

XOXO

 

[TKpervert]

It's been a long time coming for this poor little iceball ever since Clyde Tombaugh
found it sometime around 1930.
So now we have seven macho planets, and then there's Mercury, which is just a little football-sized asteroid that got grabbed by the sun.

*off to get the pertinent stats on Mercury * 😀
.
.

 

[slacker2114]

You think Pluto getting booted is bad? I read that they also have THREE other objects being consider for planet status, one being a colossal asteroid between Jupiter and Mars as well as Pluto's largest moon. Plus, they say there are literally dozens of other astral bodies that have not been classified yet within our system that may also become planets.

**sniffle** Our little corner of the galaxy is growing up.....and out.

 

[Cave In]

You think Pluto getting booted is bad? I read that they also have THREE other objects being consider for planet status, one being a colossal asteroid between Jupiter and Mars as well as Pluto's largest moon. Plus, they say there are literally dozens of other astral bodies that have not been classified yet within our system that may also become planets.

**sniffle** Our little corner of the galaxy is growing up.....and out.

I read it today and apparently these objects would all be classified as "Dwarf Planets"...

 

[The Sean Man]

Great....just what we need....another freakin' class:

"Revisionist Astronomy 101"

 

[drew70]

I heard about this on the radio yesterday. As far as I'm concerned, Pluto is already an established planet of our solar system, and no astronomers club has the authority to revoke it's planetary status.

 

[BLUE_THUNDER]

Pluto is no longer a planet? Dammitt! there went my winter vacation plans!

 

[DEV]

Everything Science taught me was a lie! 😛