Kuiper Object Discoveries Formally Announced

ewhac writes "The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the new Trans-Neptunian objects mentioned in the press earlier this year are being formally announced this week at a planetary conference in Cambridge, England. Bearing the extremely temporary names 'Xena,' 'Santa,' and 'Easterbunny,' the new objects are quite interesting in their own right (Santa is cigar-shaped, rotates end-over-end every four hours, and has a 60-mile-diameter moon). However, even more interesting is the intrigue behind the press conferences revealing Xena earlier this year. It seems that, using the astronomers' own observation logs (publicly available over the Web) and some key details inadvertently revealed in earlier announcements, someone was planning on 'discovering' the objects first and claiming credit. This was why the scientists 'pre-announced' the existence of Xena back in July, to establish priority. The conference in Cambridge represents the first formal, scientific disclosure of the objects."

Comments

help Hurricane victims

[Anonymous Coward]

GNAA pledges aid to Katrina victims
Associated Press, September 11 2005

In an early-morning press conference, reclusive GNAA president timecop declared that the Gay Nigger Association of America will contribute to hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts. He issued a statement describing the efforts being undertaken to rush relief to New Orleans' former residents, many of whom are black, gay, or both. "My heart tears at the sight of so many flooded niggers", timecop said.

The GNAA is contributing a currently-unknown quantity of sperm, intended to prevent starvation and malnutrition. The sperm is to be delivered this Monday to shelters across the nation. "We are having a non-stop wankathon. I believe we can do this, I believe in my niggas. We will not fail to feed NOLA's hungry refugees." Many have reporters present at the conference questioned the nutritional value of the semen being collected, eliciting angry stares and lip-licking from their host. Timecop did not directly answer the questions, saying "Who the hell are you? I don't see you vigorously beating off to save the niggers!"
The next item on the list was free wireless internet spanning the Southern Louisiana region, allowing access to GNAA's Lastmeasure online service. Lastmeasure is provided free of charge. It is widely touted as "better than FEMA" in the charitable relief field. Lastmeasure surpasses FEMA's disaster aid service by being accessible to any graphical browser on any operating system. Lastmeasure will be the only website available, as all other http requests will be redirected. This measure is intended to minimize use of GNAA.net wireless for other than disaster-relief LM. The conference ended with an emotional outburst from GNAA president timecop, crying out, "so many dead, rotting black shits".

Cigar Shaped?

[truckaxle]

Santa is cigar-shaped

They missed a naming opportunity. This new Trans-Neptunian object should have been named "Monica"

Re:Science is great

[Hungus]

When a significant majority in one of the advanced space faring states believes the earth is no older than 7,000 years. where do you expect the financing of the basic science necessary to even contemplate the tasks you outline? Scientific reasoning and knowledge is being devalued continuously for more faith based "logic". Moreover, for the immediate future those following the latter, easier path will live the more comfortable life.

What does young earth creationism (YEC) have to do with funding for space exploration and exploitation? I know plenty of YECs myself included that understand the stewardship issue of creation. We look at resources as something to be shepherded meaning be used and protected not abused or ignored. This means off the planet as well as on it.
Your (in general not the parent particular) tiring arguments of creationists not applying logic shows your misunderstanding of the empiricism vs. historicism of facts.