- Joined
- Apr 30, 2017
- Messages
- 9,972
- Reaction score
- 2
"Pluto might become a planet again because astronomers can’t make up their mind"
Story: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/tech...make-up-their-mind/ar-BBN1wbc?ocid=spartanntp
"When most of us were brought up in school we learned that there were 9 known planets in the Solar System, and Pluto was the one that hung out on the outskirts. Then, in 2006, everything changed and astronomers from around the world declared that Pluto didn’t meet the criteria for being called a planet."
"The one sticking point for those who wanted to strip Pluto of its planetary status — the 'clear' orbit requirement — isn’t useful in determining status at all. Instead, the real defining feature of a planet should be whether or not it is massive enough, and creates enough gravitational force, that it becomes spherical. It turns out this is an important milestone in the evolution of a planetary body, because apparently when it happens, it initiates active geology in the body.”
Story: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/tech...make-up-their-mind/ar-BBN1wbc?ocid=spartanntp
"When most of us were brought up in school we learned that there were 9 known planets in the Solar System, and Pluto was the one that hung out on the outskirts. Then, in 2006, everything changed and astronomers from around the world declared that Pluto didn’t meet the criteria for being called a planet."
"The one sticking point for those who wanted to strip Pluto of its planetary status — the 'clear' orbit requirement — isn’t useful in determining status at all. Instead, the real defining feature of a planet should be whether or not it is massive enough, and creates enough gravitational force, that it becomes spherical. It turns out this is an important milestone in the evolution of a planetary body, because apparently when it happens, it initiates active geology in the body.”
Last edited: