IAU Proposes 3 New Planets

IZ Reloaded writes "Sources tell SPACE.com that the International Astronomical Union is preparing to include three new entries to the current list of planets in our solar system. From the article: The asteroid Ceres, which is round, would be recast as a dwarf planet in the new scheme. Pluto would remain a planet and its moon Charon would be reclassified as a planet. Both would be called "plutons," however, to distinguish them from the eight "classical" planets. A far-out Pluto-sized object known as 2003 UB313 would also be called a pluton."

Comments

Cowboy neal option

[LiquidCoooled]

How long until we can get Cowboy Neal reclassified as a pluton?

Re:Interesting solution

[andrewman327]

The three bullet points in the parent are quoted from TFA. The cite was cut off, apologies.

I hope there isn't life on 2003UB313 (which is very highly unlikely) because then we would have to talk about the 2003UB313ians and that would just be annoying.

Yikes.

[Rob T Firefly]

Somewhere, Space Fonzie is jumping over an Astro-Shark.

I don't care what they are named....

[lbmouse]

....what do they smell like?

Fry: Did you build the Smellescope?
Farnsworth: No, I remembered that I'd built one last year. Go ahead, try it. You'll find that every heavenly body has its own particular scent. Here, I'll point it at Jupiter.
[Fry sniffs.]
Fry: Smells like strawberries.
Farnsworth: Exactly! And now Saturn.
[Fry sniffs.]
Fry: Pine needles. Oh, man, this is great! Hey, as long as you don't make me smell Uranus.
[Fry laughs.]
Leela: I don't get it.
Farnsworth: I'm sorry, Fry, but astronomers renamed Uranus in 2620 to end that stupid joke once and for all.
Fry: Oh. What's it called now?
Farnsworth: Urectum. Here, let me locate it for you.

Re:I like this defintion

[anshil]

"Why is the idea of over 50 planets so abhorent?"

Think of the complexity of the new astrology that would be needed to cater for 50 planets that then influence our fortunes, I would like my destiny be determined by just 9 planets...

Re:What the pluton?

[noahisaac]

The difference between a "pebble" and a "boulder" isn't tangible.

Having had both land on me at one point or another in my life, I beg to differ.

Re:Interesting solution

[houghi]

I for one will already welcome our 2003UB313ian overlords.