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The world's astronomers, under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), have concluded two years of work defining the difference between "planets" and the smaller "solar system bodies" such as comets and asteroids. If the definition is approved by the astronomers gathered 14-25 August 2006 at the IAU General Assembly in Prague, our Solar System will include 12 planets, with more to come: eight classical planets that dominate the system, three planets in a new and growing category of "plutons" - Pluto-like objects - and Ceres. Pluto remains a planet and is the prototype for the new category of "plutons."
The IAU draft definition of "planet" and "plutons"
Seeded on Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:03 AM EDT
Article Source: iau2006.org- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (3)
One of the consequences is, that Charon is no longer a moon to Pluto - instead they are a double-planet (circulating around a common center of gravity outside Pluto).
#1 - Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:12 AM EDTI am wondering - aren't there any interesting problems left for astronomers to solve? Why go into philosophical discussions?
#2 - Thu Aug 17, 2006 4:01 PM EDTOf course it is correct to say, that there is absolutely no new scientific knowledge found in this.
But it is still necessary for astronomers to reform the definitions, mainly because a lot of new data don't fit the old definitions. So it is really the great success in astronomy in recent years, that is the cause.
Seen this way, it is not something the astronomers do because they are bored - on the contrary!
To ordinary people it might just be a question of being "conservative". Maybe you don't like a change in things you have always been familiar with, even if it is only words?
The Moon (our moon) is still a moon after all...
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