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Vote To Name Two Newly Discovered Moons of Pluto

Posted by samzenpus on from the a-moon-by-any-other-name dept.

astroengine writes "The SETI Institute has launched a new website called 'Pluto Rocks!' intended to gather a public vote on the names of Pluto's smallest, and most recently discovered, moons P4 and P5. Discovered in 2011 and 2012 by Hubble, the two dinky satellites have concerned scientists managing the NASA New Horizons probe that will flyby the Plutonian system in 2015 — the presence of small rocky bodies in Pluto orbit might mean there is a significant collision risk to the high velocity spacecraft. This sinister back story will surely influence the naming outcome of the two new moons, where all the suggestions on Pluto Rocks! are related to Greek and Roman mythological characters from the underworld (but you can also make your own suggestions). If you want to get involved, there's also a special SETI Institute G+ Hangout planned for 11 a.m. PT Monday where two of the P4/P5 discovery scientists will hold a Q&A session."

25 of 144 comments (clear)

  1. Name them.... by Surak_Prime · · Score: 2

    Stewart and Colbert

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  2. Hmmm... by B33rNinj4 · · Score: 2

    Lursa and B'Etor.

  3. Are they really moons? by Jmc23 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Do non-planets have moons?

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    1. Re:Are they really moons? by naroom · · Score: 3, Funny

      That's no moon...

    2. Re:Are they really moons? by Kenja · · Score: 2

      Was going to post much the same question. However, anything in space can have a moon since all that means is an object trapped in the parents gravity field. So yes, even planetoids can have moons. In fact, even a moon can have moons. But that would be very uncommon as a moons moon would most likely get pulled out of orbit by what the moon is orbiting.

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      "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    3. Re:Are they really moons? by i+kan+reed · · Score: 2

      It's a dwarf planet, not a non-planet.

    4. Re:Are they really moons? by Kenja · · Score: 2

      Proximity related to mass.

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      "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    5. Re:Are they really moons? by dgatwood · · Score: 2

      Is there another name for rocks that orbit rocks?

      Groupies?

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  4. Re:Who cares? by gstoddart · · Score: 2

    sayeth the cool kids in the astronomy departments

    Have you ever been to an astronomy department? ;-)

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    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  5. Re:That's easy . . . name one "Colbert" . . . by dkleinsc · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Actually, I'd make the other one Tyson, because Neil Degrasse Tyson was instrumental in making Pluto no longer a planet.

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  6. Orpheus and Euridice by Antipater · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Those two aren't taken yet? I'm genuinely surprised.

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    Everything is better with chainsaws.
    1. Re:Orpheus and Euridice by Celarent+Darii · · Score: 2

      I would vote for those. Also Persephone would be a good choice.

  7. Slash and Dot by futhermocker · · Score: 5, Funny

    But then they would probably get slammed by asteroids Troll and Shill

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  8. it's too soon... by drankr · · Score: 2

    I still haven't gotten over Pluto's demotion. I just don't wanna revisit that whole thing. Moon, shmoon, whatever, it will never be the same.
    Anyway I'm sure somebody out there's already got perfectly good names for them...

  9. Re:Who cares? by camperdave · · Score: 2

    sayeth the cool kids in the astronomy departments

    Have you ever been to an astronomy department? ;-)

    He means the toughs who hang out by the air conditioner.

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    When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  10. Names by pitchpipe · · Score: 2

    This is Not a Moon
    and
    It's a Trap!

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    Look where all this talking got us, baby.
  11. Scylla and Charybdis by erice · · Score: 2

    Given the danger to the New Horizons probe, the appropriate mythology names would have to be Scylla and Charybdis

  12. how about something really bad ass by circletimessquare · · Score: 2

    like the names of the greek gods for "fear" and "terror"

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    1. Re:how about something really bad ass by Antipater · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You're in luck, then. Acheron (agony) and Alecto (rage) are on the list of candidates, as is Erebus (darkness - more specifically, the embracing darkness that envelops and smothers you as it drags you to Hades).

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      Everything is better with chainsaws.
  13. Itchy and Scratchy! by bazorg · · Score: 2

    too bad their poll is not more like Slashdot... I'd go for Itchy and Scratchy.

  14. Re:That's easy . . . name one "Colbert" . . . by The+Archon+V2.0 · · Score: 2

    Oh, now that's just rubbing it in. Pluto's gonna be pissed.

  15. Re:Styx and Journey by Overzeetop · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm okay with Styx, but the other one should be named Journey.

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    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  16. Hubris and Calamity by Ransak · · Score: 2

    ... from the BBC's Space Odyssey: Voyage To The Planets.

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    "Powers. I have them."
  17. My Vote by TheSkepticalOptimist · · Score: 2

    "Who the fuck cares" and "This is not a moon"

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    I haven't thought of anything clever to put here, but then again most of you haven't either.
  18. Re:Styx and Journey by Jesus_666 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think that naming moons after bands is a great idea. Hence I propose calling the moons Styx and Stones.

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