History Rewritten: Pluto Demoted

[Darius Wey]

"Leading astronomers declared Thursday that Pluto is no longer a planet under historic new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight."

Any astronomy geeks in here? I'm a self-confessed one, and I love tracking news like this.

It'll be interesting to see schools modify their content now and into the future, as they teach the little ones that the solar system now has eight planets, not nine. ;)

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/space/08/24/pluto.ap/index.html

[Mark Kenepp]

I think it is a shame Pluto has to go :byebye: I personally was looking forward to having twelve planets (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14364833/)

Darious,

Do you have any astronomy software installed on your Pocket PC (or Desktop)?

[martin_ayton]

Calling Pluto a planet was always a stretch. I think this is a good solution.

I'd also be interested in recommendations of good astronomy app's for the PPC.

Darius - Is there anything you aren't interested in / knowlegdeable about? Goodness only knows how you have time for all this stuff and your medical studies. Oh yeah, I forgot, you don't sleep...

[Darius Wey]

Do you have any astronomy software installed on your Pocket PC (or Desktop)?

Nope, I just visit astronomy sites, read the news, look at the pictures, and "gaze at the stars". :)

[Darius Wey]

I'd also be interested in recommendations of good astronomy app's for the PPC.

I've not used them before, but I've heard Pocket Stars and VITO AstroNavigator are worth checking out. :)

[Sven Johannsen]

"Leading astronomers declared Thursday that Pluto is no longer a planet under historic new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight."

Not sure it's over yet. From what I've read, less than 5% of practicing (professional?) astronomers were even given the opportunity to voice their opinions. There is dissent afoot.

If it stands it could make way for other re-definitions of common understanding. Austrailia might become just another island.

[Janak Parekh]

Not sure it's over yet. From what I've read, less than 5% of practicing (professional?) astronomers were even given the opportunity to voice their opinions. There is dissent afoot.
I for one hope it's over. The whole "debate" is nonsense. If Pluto is kept, we must add at least 3 other objects which really don't look like the other 8.

If it stands it could make way for other re-definitions of common understanding. Austrailia might become just another island.
That's not the IAU's domain. ;)

--janak

[BoxWave]

Hate to be the party pooper, but it looks like Pluto is sticking around :P. As seen in the Colbert Report 0X .