In the words of Ricky Ricardo, “Lucy you got some explaining to do…” Seems all those years of learning about the solar system might have been a waste. Not really but som leading astronomers with too much time on their hands declared Thursday that Pluto is no longer a planet under historic new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight. That is right we lost one…
I quote…”After a tumultuous week of clashing over the essence of the cosmos, the International Astronomical Union stripped Pluto of the planetary status it has held since its discovery in 1930. The new definition of what is – and isn’t – a planet fills a centuries-old black hole for scientists who have labored since Copernicus without one.
Although astronomers applauded after the vote, Jocelyn Bell Burnell – a specialist in neutron stars from Northern Ireland who oversaw the proceedings – urged those who might be “quite disappointed” to look on the bright side.
“It could be argued that we are creating an umbrella called ‘planet’ under which the dwarf planets exist,” she said, drawing laughter (I don’t get it) by waving a stuffed Pluto of Walt Disney fame beneath a real umbrella. The decision by the prestigious international group spells out the basic tests that celestial objects will have to meet before they can be considered for admission to the elite cosmic club.
For now, membership will be restricted to the eight “classical” planets in the solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.”
Pluto is automatically disqualified because its oblong orbit overlaps with Neptune’s. Instead, it will be reclassified in a new category of “dwarf planets,” so Pluto is now a dwarf. Boy, I am glad they cleared this up forget the other issues like global warming. I will sleep better tonight!
You can read the entire article here. If bored at work like me.
Just shows be careful what you believe…….and how do you get to be a specialist in neutron stars? Rumor has it the next question the group will tackle is the question of “Where is Rishi?” Comments always welcomed….
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