Slashdot Mirror
How Would You Define a Planet?
It doesn't come easy asks: "The argument over the definition of a planet continues. So far, two definitions are favored but without much consensus so far: base the definition of a planet simply on an object's size. Pluto would be near the lower limit and the newly discovered Kuiper Belt objects could also qualify, giving us 10 or 11 planets so far; or define the single dominant body in its immediate neighborhood as the only qualifying object for planetary status. If no one body dominated (such as the millions of individual asteroids in the asteroid belt) then none would qualify for planetary status. In this case Pluto would be disqualified (Neptune would be the dominant body in Pluto's region of space), and the newly discovered Kuiper Belt objects would also fail to qualify. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) working group charged with pinning down the definition of a planet may vote on the proposals within the next two weeks (or they may decide to start all over again with something new). Maybe Slashdot readers can give them some help. How would you define a planet?"
sounds good enough for me ;-)
What could possibly hurt the security of the American people more than giving our own government the ability to hide its
Oataox or whatever the hell? The guy who came up with that needs to be kicked out of the Astronomy club.
"Ain't no right way to do a wrong thing."
A nonluminous celestial body larger than an asstroid or cumbucket, illuminated by light from a star, such as Michael Jackson, around which it revolts.
Uncyclopedia: Planet
If it's the size of Marvin's brain, or bigger, it's a Planet.
... well, it's just depressing.
If it's smaller
Wretched, isn't it?
I suggested this on www.randi.org a few weeks ago. In Pluto's case have astrologers draw up two parallel charts. One with Pluto as a planet, the other without. After a few weeks we can compare what happened in the world to the astrology charts and that'll settle it.
"The planets don't lie" as I said there. ;)
Trolling is a art,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definition_of_Planet
If you can land on it and score with an alien chick, it's a planet.
by your definition my ex-wife is a planet!
--iggy_mon - www.ananonymouskiller.com - Die Trying -
...the mice?
If you could reason with religious people, there would be no religious people
I think we should just drop the name. It can still exist, but not in a scientific context. We just go with MVEMJSUNP as "planets" and make up words with given definitions before we start trying to apply them them to things.
BOOS: Big Objects Orbiting Star.
BOOBOOS: Big Objects Orbiting Big Objects Orbiting Star.
LOOS: Little Objects Orbiting Star.
FOSC: Floating Outer Space Crap.
Planet: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto.
Oh, and since I know you'll ask the difference between a BOOS and a LOOS is that a BOOS is large enough that it's own gravity keeps it roughly spherical.
It is no longer uncommon to be uncommon.
I think you missed a really important one:
/ducks
Big Objects Orbiting Binary Stars...
the above is my personal opinion and does not necessarily reflect that of the little voices in my head
The only way to define it is obvious:
Anything you can blow up with the Death Star!
"City hall" in German is "Rathaus" Kinda explains a few things......
If it can support the orbit of the Deathstar then it qualifies.
We also need BFR..."Big Fucking Rock".
I want a new quote. One that won't spill. One that don't cost too much. Or come in a pill.