So now there are 12 planets....

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: outerheaven

Originally posted by: dug777
They're just sucky little rocks

Some are just frozen masses of gas on some rock.

I think in order to be called a "planet," a celestial object must have a significant gravitional field and contain an atmosphere. Of course the scientists are debating that now.

mars doesn't really have an atmosphere

Huh? There are dust storms on Mars. It has quite a nice atmosphere.

 

[MrCodeDude]

Are they going to rename 2003 UB313?

 

[Philippine Mango]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
2003 UB313 must have been one of the lesser known gods.

LOL :laugh:

 

[Eeezee]

OP, you've lead ATOT astray by assuming that this is set in stone

The IAU has been arguing about the official definition for years. No definition has a majority, but the popular ones are this one and the good old definition that specifically defines Pluto as a planet in addition to the ones that are already taught in classrooms. The reason why the definition in the article isn't a good definition is already well-explained; eventually the solar system will have dozens of planets even though most of them are nothing but chunks of rock and ice. For historical sake, I prefer the old style of planet definition; the obvious jovian and terran planets + pluto.

In the end it doesn't really matter

 

[Pepsei]

Originally posted by: linkgoron
They're going to have to re-release Star Control!

launch fighter

 

[lyssword]

dam the earth is so fvcking small compared to other planets + sun! we gota colonize another planets

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

"A planet is a celestial body that (a) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (b) is in orbit around a star, and is neither a star nor a satellite of a planet."

This is a pretty bad definition.

Consider two round bodies, both orbiting a sun, but the smaller body orbiting around the larger body at the same time, like our moon orbits around us. BUT imagine that both are huge, have an ecosystem, and support life. By this definition one of these bodies isn't going to be a planet because it "is a satellite of a planet." (orbits around that planet)

 

[RaistlinZ]

Originally posted by: pontifex

Originally posted by: GreenGhost

Originally posted by: freshgeardude
according to this xena is the 10th planet and at this rate every thing they see circling the sun that has a rock around it or neer it the will call a planet so in like 10 year there will be like 25 planets!!!!!!

Grabrielle has hotter than Xena, but she was made to look like an ordinary sidekick.

hot redhead ftw!

although i think i saw some shots of her in later seasons where her hair was cut really short and dyed like platinum blonde.

You mean like this? Or maybe this. Perhaps this. Or, even this one.

But yeah, I agree. Gabrielle was way sexier than Xena.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: MrPickins

Originally posted by: Atheus

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: Jnetty99

Originally posted by: JEDI
wtf?~ 12 planets from 9?

ok.. ceres and xena i've heard of. Where did this 12th planet come from?!

Charon is a moon of Pluto and under the new definition would be consider a planet, or "plutons"

wtf?! how does a very small moon of a very small planet get to be a planet? yet Earth/ saturn/jupiter's moons arent?

Charon is about the same size as Pluto, so it's part of a double planet rather than a moon.

From what I gather, they are a binary ststem, also. Meaning neither orbits each other, instead both orbit a barycenter in space between them. Thus, neither is a moon.

That's the way all orbits are. It's impossible for any planet or star to not wobble from its satellite's mass.

The proposed definition of a planet-sattelite system would have the center of mass of the two objects located inside one of the objects. This is true for the earth-moon system. With pluto-charon the center of mass is in between the two objects. This is the proposed definition of a double planet.