Slashdot Mirror
Why Pluto Still Matters
StartsWithABang writes Nearly a century ago, Pluto was discovered, and for 48 years it remained the only known object whose orbit takes it beyond the gravitational pull of Neptune. In a single generation, we've now discovered more than 1,000 additional objects in the Kuiper Belt, but does that make Pluto any less special? Here's a strong argument for why Pluto might matter now more than ever.
Here's a strong argument for why Pluto might matter now more than ever.
Maybe, just maybe, this is something that could've been added to the summary.
Click Bait; Didn't Read.
Political debates have me rolling my eyes so much I think I got optical whiplash. I should sue. - Foamy The Squirrel
Pluto is what it is. We have a probe about to visit so that's great. I detest the IAU definition of a planet not because Pluto isn't included but because it is an ill thought out inconsistent mess that was voted in on the last day of the IAU conference when most of the voting members had gone one after discarding a front runner definition that made a lot more sense and was more subjective. Yes it made Pluto a planet but so what!?
The definition they did accept in the end has a LOT wrong with it:
It explictly mentions the sun so extrasolar planets aren't planets.
It defines dwarf planet such that a dwarf planet is not a planet (very confusing especially for a definition intended for lay people).
It defines a planet that has not cleared it's path as not being a planet. Well what about the Trojan Asteroids and Jupiter? Is Jupiter not a planet?
They're just some of the highlights. The definition is a complete mess.
This sentence is at the core of all this rambling: "The fact that there are other things out there that are bigger, smarter, faster, stronger, or better than you, in any regard, inÂabsolutely no way diminishes how special you are." Wishful thinking at best, delusionary denial at best: the fact that there are better persons than him make him insignificant, mundane and unworthy. People like him should just accept it, understand how low their place in the world is, and behave accordingly. Seriously, if a child is a retarded spazz what good are you doing in telling it it's "special" (unless you mean handicapped) and equal to the others? You're just setting it up for a big letdown later. Be honest: call shit by its name.
"... for 48 years it remained the only known object whose orbit takes it beyond the gravitational pull of Neptune."
Wow! A truly distinct object. Even remote galaxies aren't "beyond the gravitational pull of Neptune." which drops off as 1/R^2 out to infinity but never disappears. I wonder what makes Pluto unique?
typical click-bait: "read here why Pluto still matters...."
How about giving a real abstract on why it matters on the Slashdot post and people can click through for reference and details if they want to.
What a retarded article. Such buildup, only to state that Pluto matters because, and I quote, "as a child, Pluto reminded me of myself."
I believe they like to be called "little planets" rather than "dwarf" ones. Political correctness please!
. Today, hardly anyone has hard of Ceres..
Thank goodness, I would be worried for myself if seeing any celestial object would gave me a hard (unless they looked like a beautiful women which they generally don't, but even in that case, I would rather stare at a beautiful woman instead).
If you post as an AC, don't expect me to spend a mod point on you.
Ceres thoughts on Pluto.