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IAU Names Fifth Dwarf Planet Haumea
Kligat writes "The International Astronomical Union has renamed the dwarf planet Haumea and its two moons Hi'iaka and Namaka, after the Hawaiian fertility goddess, the patron goddess of Hawaii, and a water spirit. The cigar-shaped body is speculated to have resulted from its short rotational period of only four hours. Holding up the reclassification of the body as a dwarf planet was a dispute over its discovery between the groups of José Luis Ortiz Moreno and Michael E. Brown."
Wait, it's "cigar-shaped" and they're naming it after a fertility _Goddess_? Something's not right here.
Ok, great victory for believers in Hawaiian mythology. I'm waiting for the day when they finally run out of religious mythologies and have to allow names like Xena for real. Although there are so many religions around that by that time Xena will probably be seen as an ancient mythological figure.
"The decision was made after discussions by members of the International Astronomical Union's Committee on Small Body Nomenclature (CSBN) and the IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN)"
Surprisingly interesting names, but should bodies that name themselves CSBN and WGPSN really be in charge of naming other bodies?
Moreno's reputation took a hammering too, at least in the popular press.
I'd be interested to hear your definition of "popular press".
I beg to differ! My wife gave birth to our first kid! And...wait a minute? I just realized that I was too busy with WoW to consumate...but... ...Darnit! It's a good thing she isn't home right now, or I would tell her what I think. Why is she always gone most of the day? And the night?
It's Thursday, so she should be swinging by for her check soon. While I'm waiting for her, I could try for another level or two. But first, let me refill my snacks!
Need more Red Bull...
It's a pseudonym. He just wanted to rake in the fame twice.
Perhaps she needs a bra?
This is getting complicated. Before Pluto got demoted our 3rd graders only had to remember earth plus 8 stereotypical Roman gods. Now we've got Hawaiin fertility goddesses, Pacific islander super-deities, Eskimo ice-queens, and TV warrior princesses. Curse they IAU! When will the insanity stop?
Obviously something has to be done. Our preconceived notions about the solar system are collapsing around us. There is only one logical response:
It'll have to go.
Blow everything up except the sun, the original nine planets, and their moons...except Phobos. Blow Phobos up, as well. Too many demon invasions from that place. We'll join the ranks of the people of Krikkit as a civillization that defined its own universe, and our third graders can go back to embarrassing educated adults on television. Do it for the children.