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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.
The arguments in favor of Pluto are purely subjective, and are mostly related to the core-self identity of the writer. The funny part is that I subscribe completely. And perhaps this psychological factor should matter in this case alone.
I take my children to see Madonna(..), but I never for once ever thought I was in the same business.Chris Rea.
Seriously, Goofy as s Mickey's friend, right? He's clearly a canine.
Then how can Mickey also have a pet dog?
And what about the fucking horses?
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.
The judge stated, "Mr. Mouse, I can't see fit to approve your divorce petition based solely on your opinion that your wife Minnie is crazy; in this state you have to have a valid cause for divorce."
Mickey replied, "Your honor, with all due respect, I didn't say she's crazy -- I said she's fucking Goofy!"
Modulo Alderaan, of course.
Do you consider Ceres a planet? Because until more recently it, and IIRC one or two other asteriods, were considered planets. Today, hardly anyone has hard of Ceres. Ceres got demoted what it was realised that was simply a large object among millions that shared its orbit. It's the same for Pluto.
soylentnews.org
"... 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?
Pluto still matters because it is the most well studied known Kuiper belt object and we are finally about to get a good look at it.
You shouldn't anthropomorphize planets. They hate when you do that.
Ezekiel 23:20
Ceres thoughts on Pluto.
FTA:
The fact that there are other things out there that are bigger, smarter, faster, stronger, or better than you, in any regard, in absolutely no way diminishes how special you are.
So it's important because it's a special little snowflake, just like the millennials have been taught to think of themselves. Yea, well, guess what? You're not special. And neither is Pluto.
"Somebody has to do something. It's just incredibly pathetic it has to be us."
--- Jerry Garcia
Having RTFA, it is evident to me that the reason the abstract lacked any redeeming quality of any kind is because the article itself had no redeeming quality of any kind.
Slashdot: I wasted several minutes of my life reading TFA. I want them back.
Will