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?"

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[christurkel]

I would define it thus: An object is a planet if it has enough gravity to form into a sphere but not large enough to ever had fusion start in its interior and has cleared its orbit of debris left over from its formation. This would allow Pluto to remain a planet, as well as "promote" Sedna to planet stus but rule out Ceres.

Re:anything with a roman god name

[kfg]

Terra Mater (Mother Earth)is not commonly held to be the same as the Goddess Bona Dea (Fauna). They would typically have seperate shrines, often in the same area, built by the same people. One is a personification of Earth itself, the other of living things. Of course here and there the lines might well blur.

I am fauna, but not terra. The child, but not the mother. I come from, but do not share identity.

In any case, the current official name of the earth is Earth, which is Germanic.

http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanet s/earth.html

KFG