How Would You Define a Planet? 410
It doesn't come easy asks: "The argument over the definition of a planet continues. So far, two definitions are favored but without much consensus so far: base the definition of a planet simply on an object's size. Pluto would be near the lower limit and the newly discovered Kuiper Belt objects could also qualify, giving us 10 or 11 planets so far; or define the single dominant body in its immediate neighborhood as the only qualifying object for planetary status. If no one body dominated (such as the millions of individual asteroids in the asteroid belt) then none would qualify for planetary status. In this case Pluto would be disqualified (Neptune would be the dominant body in Pluto's region of space), and the newly discovered Kuiper Belt objects would also fail to qualify. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) working group charged with pinning down the definition of a planet may vote on the proposals within the next two weeks (or they may decide to start all over again with something new). Maybe Slashdot readers can give them some help. How would you define a planet?"
anything with a roman god name (Score:4, Funny)
Dude... (Score:1, Funny)
There. I just settled what thousands of "smart" astronomers with their "Ph. D's" can't figure out.
Pass the bong man...
Quick definition (Score:5, Funny)
Oataox or whatever the hell? The guy who came up with that needs to be kicked out of the Astronomy club.
Thank God fior the Uncyclopedia (Score:4, Funny)
Uncyclopedia: Planet [uncyclopedia.org]
Heh (Score:4, Funny)
If it's smaller
Wretched, isn't it?
Re:anything with a roman god name (Score:2, Funny)
KFG
I suggested... (Score:4, Funny)
I suggested this on www.randi.org [randi.org] a few weeks ago. In Pluto's case have astrologers draw up two parallel charts. One with Pluto as a planet, the other without. After a few weeks we can compare what happened in the world to the astrology charts and that'll settle it.
"The planets don't lie" as I said there. ;)
Whatever Wikipedia says. (Score:5, Funny)
The Kirk Test (Score:5, Funny)
Re:By mass & composition (Score:5, Funny)
Has anyone asked... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Dude... (Score:5, Funny)
BOOS: Big Objects Orbiting Star.
BOOBOOS: Big Objects Orbiting Big Objects Orbiting Star.
LOOS: Little Objects Orbiting Star.
FOSC: Floating Outer Space Crap.
Planet: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto.
Oh, and since I know you'll ask the difference between a BOOS and a LOOS is that a BOOS is large enough that it's own gravity keeps it roughly spherical.
Re:By that definition, (Score:1, Funny)
anything smaller than cowboy neals mom (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Dude... (Score:5, Funny)
Big Objects Orbiting Binary Stars...
Gotta be more specific.... (Score:5, Funny)
Anything you can blow up with the Death Star!
Simple... The Deathstar Test (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Here's my criteria... (Score:1, Funny)
Oh, wait. I just described myself.
Re:Dude... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Dude... (Score:1, Funny)