Philosophy
Pluto
Does this satisfy everyone now?
Pluto sub-classification
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has decided that Pluto — and other dwarf planets in the Solar System that share similar characteristics — should now be sub-classified as "plutoids".
The revised classification comes almost two years after Pluto was demoted from "planet" to "dwarf planet" in order to dispel inconsistencies in Solar System nomenclature that have arisen as more orbiting bodies have been discovered.
A dwarf planet is a body orbiting the Sun that has enough gravity to assume a near-spherical shape, but that is not the sole occupant of its orbit. To be a "plutoid", according to the IAU, the dwarf planet must also be orbiting at a greater distance than Neptune. Aside from Pluto, the only other known dwarf planet fitting this specification is Eris, although more are expected to be found in the future.
The IAU, which has been responsible for the classifying planetary bodies and satellites since the early 1900s, had always planned to create sub-classes within the class of "dwarf planet". The name "plutoid" was proposed by the IAU Committee on Small Body Nomenclature, and then accepted by the IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature and the board of IAU’s Division III, which concerns planetary systems. It was finally approved by IAU executives at a recent meeting in Oslo, Norway.
Still criticized
When Pluto was first reclassified, some astronomers criticized the definition for not being robust enough, in particular because the orbits of certain planets — including Earth — also overlapped with other bodies. On top of that, they complained that there were not enough astronomers consulted when decision was made.
Catherine Cesarsky, president of the IAU, dismisses such past protests. "They form a very small part of the astronomy community," she told physicsworld.com. She added that "practically nobody" is now trying to get Pluto reclassified as a planet.
However, Alan Stern, principal investigator for NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto, has already mocked the new plutoid definition. "Plutoids or haemorrhoids, whatever they call it. This is irrelevant," he has been reported as saying.
Cesarsky admits that she has not yet heard the response from the astronomy committee for the rebranding. "I don’t think there will be a big [reaction]," she says. "A few people make a lot of noise."
What's in a name?--Pluto
- Yesterday [2006] Pluto Was Declared A Non-planet
"Aug. 24, 2006: Pluto Deplanetized" by Tony Long and Doug Cornelius August 24th, 2010 Wired 2006: Pluto, once the ninth planet from the sun, is downgraded to a mere “dwarf planet.” Our solar system loses a favorite kid brother and now has, officially,...
- More On Pluto And Classification
Ms. Kornfeld...do read and check out the link [fourth essay listed] provided in the body of this essay. Don't let the math bother you. "Picking Planets from Potatoes" Poor Pluto: Number of Dwarf Planets Increases April 24th, 2010 Astrobiology Magazine...
- Alas Poor Pluto, I Knew Him Well
"Poor Pluto: Number Of Dwarf Planets Increases" April 26th, 2010 SPACE DAILY New research from the Australian National University has further reduced the status of Pluto by suggesting there are many more dwarf planets in the Solar System than previously...
- Pluto Fizzled At Iau's Rio Meeting
The IAU's Rio meeting never discussed the sensitive issue of Pluto's status. "Pluto still not a planet after astronomy meeting" by Dan Vergano August 13th, 2009 USA Today An international astronomy meeting ended Thursday in Rio de Janeiro,...
- Pluto, Tyson, Cnn Lecture
From CNN: "The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America's Favorite Planet" Neil deGrasse Tyson talks about the controversy over re-classifying Pluto as a comet. New York's American Museum of Natural History, where this talk was held, was the...
Philosophy
Pluto="Plutoid"
PlutoDoes this satisfy everyone now?
""Plutoids": the new name for Pluto-like dwarf planets"
by
Jon Cartwright
June 12th, 2008
physicsworld.com
by
Jon Cartwright
June 12th, 2008
physicsworld.com
Pluto sub-classification
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has decided that Pluto — and other dwarf planets in the Solar System that share similar characteristics — should now be sub-classified as "plutoids".
The revised classification comes almost two years after Pluto was demoted from "planet" to "dwarf planet" in order to dispel inconsistencies in Solar System nomenclature that have arisen as more orbiting bodies have been discovered.
A dwarf planet is a body orbiting the Sun that has enough gravity to assume a near-spherical shape, but that is not the sole occupant of its orbit. To be a "plutoid", according to the IAU, the dwarf planet must also be orbiting at a greater distance than Neptune. Aside from Pluto, the only other known dwarf planet fitting this specification is Eris, although more are expected to be found in the future.
The IAU, which has been responsible for the classifying planetary bodies and satellites since the early 1900s, had always planned to create sub-classes within the class of "dwarf planet". The name "plutoid" was proposed by the IAU Committee on Small Body Nomenclature, and then accepted by the IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature and the board of IAU’s Division III, which concerns planetary systems. It was finally approved by IAU executives at a recent meeting in Oslo, Norway.
Still criticized
When Pluto was first reclassified, some astronomers criticized the definition for not being robust enough, in particular because the orbits of certain planets — including Earth — also overlapped with other bodies. On top of that, they complained that there were not enough astronomers consulted when decision was made.
Catherine Cesarsky, president of the IAU, dismisses such past protests. "They form a very small part of the astronomy community," she told physicsworld.com. She added that "practically nobody" is now trying to get Pluto reclassified as a planet.
However, Alan Stern, principal investigator for NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto, has already mocked the new plutoid definition. "Plutoids or haemorrhoids, whatever they call it. This is irrelevant," he has been reported as saying.
Cesarsky admits that she has not yet heard the response from the astronomy committee for the rebranding. "I don’t think there will be a big [reaction]," she says. "A few people make a lot of noise."
What's in a name?--Pluto
- Yesterday [2006] Pluto Was Declared A Non-planet
"Aug. 24, 2006: Pluto Deplanetized" by Tony Long and Doug Cornelius August 24th, 2010 Wired 2006: Pluto, once the ninth planet from the sun, is downgraded to a mere “dwarf planet.” Our solar system loses a favorite kid brother and now has, officially,...
- More On Pluto And Classification
Ms. Kornfeld...do read and check out the link [fourth essay listed] provided in the body of this essay. Don't let the math bother you. "Picking Planets from Potatoes" Poor Pluto: Number of Dwarf Planets Increases April 24th, 2010 Astrobiology Magazine...
- Alas Poor Pluto, I Knew Him Well
"Poor Pluto: Number Of Dwarf Planets Increases" April 26th, 2010 SPACE DAILY New research from the Australian National University has further reduced the status of Pluto by suggesting there are many more dwarf planets in the Solar System than previously...
- Pluto Fizzled At Iau's Rio Meeting
The IAU's Rio meeting never discussed the sensitive issue of Pluto's status. "Pluto still not a planet after astronomy meeting" by Dan Vergano August 13th, 2009 USA Today An international astronomy meeting ended Thursday in Rio de Janeiro,...
- Pluto, Tyson, Cnn Lecture
From CNN: "The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America's Favorite Planet" Neil deGrasse Tyson talks about the controversy over re-classifying Pluto as a comet. New York's American Museum of Natural History, where this talk was held, was the...