| Author | Thread |
|
|
08/24/2006 10:09:58 AM · #1 |
Perhaps some of you have been following the debate of the International Astronomical Union in Prague this past several days. At stake is the definition and the possible demotion of Pluto from the ranks of the accepted. The final vote is to take place sometime today, so one way or another, the debate will soon be settled, officially at least.
Here's a great visual from the New York Times today. Makes me laugh just to look at it. The illustrator has captured so beautifully the essence of the debate:
Image pulled from this article.
Breaking news?? click |
|
|
|
08/24/2006 10:13:41 AM · #2 |
It is now official Pluto is not a planet anymore. The solar system now only contains eight planets //news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060824/ap_on_sc/planet_mutiny
All I can say is that we live in interesting times and changes can occur on the mindnumbing planetary scale. |
|
|
|
08/24/2006 10:14:54 AM · #3 |
Yeah, I had been reading about that.
I tend to agree with the decision that they made. |
|
|
|
08/24/2006 10:16:41 AM · #4 |
| Does it really make any difference whether we call Pluto a planet or not? Is there any real significance to this decision? I guess I just don't get it. |
|
|
|
08/24/2006 10:18:37 AM · #5 |
I guess Pluto has been DQ'ed!
|
|
|
|
08/24/2006 10:20:22 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by Trumpeteer4:
Does it really make any difference whether we call Pluto a planet or not? Is there any real significance to this decision? I guess I just don't get it. |
It depends on who you talk to. Biological classification schemes have been important in contributing to our understanding of evolution - and some classification schemes are tweaked as understanding of evolution grows. Classification of planets now reflects current knowledge of the bodies that make up our solar system, so it's a good thing. It will also hopefully spur much discussion in science classrooms about how science works, how classification aids in understanding populations, etc. It's not just about memorizing planets. |
|
|
|
08/24/2006 10:20:58 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by Southern Gentleman:
I guess Pluto has been DQ'ed! |
LOL, Maybe we should have a planet challenge:-) |
|
|
|
08/24/2006 10:21:25 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by Southern Gentleman:
I guess Pluto has been DQ'ed! |
Excellent. Sets a record too, DQ'd after 76 years! |
|
|
|
08/24/2006 10:23:14 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by C Novack:
LOL, Maybe we should have a planet challenge:-) |
We'd need to adopt a new rule set!
 |
|
|
|
08/24/2006 10:23:37 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by strangeghost:
Originally posted by Southern Gentleman:
I guess Pluto has been DQ'ed! |
Excellent. Sets a record too, DQ'd after 76 years! |
St. Christopher was DQ'd after about 700 years... (sorry, off topic!)
|
|
|
|
08/24/2006 10:24:18 AM · #11 |
| Doesn't this violate the Prime Directive? - Just wait until the Federation finds out. |
|
|
|
08/24/2006 10:32:31 AM · #12 |
Appears to be no conflict unless you know something about life on pluto (vulcans?).
Originally posted by jhonan:
Doesn't this violate the Prime Directive? - Just wait until the Federation finds out. |
|
|
|
|
08/24/2006 10:38:24 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by C Novack:
It is now official Pluto is not a planet anymore. The solar system now only contains eight planets //news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060824/ap_on_sc/planet_mutiny
All I can say is that we live in interesting times and changes can occur on the mindnumbing planetary scale. |
Within the realm of human experienece, Pluto is still what it is and has always been. Ceres and Charon and the numerical one waaaay out there as well. Nothing has changed but the vocabulary.
The headline I put in my blog was "Pluto is no longer a planet, but remains a cartoon dog. Anti-doping committee to comment shortly."
Message edited by author 2006-08-24 10:39:33.
|
|
|
|
08/24/2006 10:43:15 AM · #14 |
|
|
|
08/24/2006 10:48:06 AM · #15 |
This is gonna screw up a lot of people in Trivial Pursuit...
R.
|
|
|
|
08/24/2006 10:48:36 AM · #16 |
Hahahahaha! I love the graphic!
Been following this, as well as the proposed "definition" of a planet. Interesting outcome, guess some textbooks need rewriting.
On a (slightly) more serious note it *is* valuable to get this kind of stuff hashed out, even though it seems pretty wacky. Same kind of thing goes on in the life sciences when organisms are reclassified based on new knowledge. Necessary work, but from the outside looks like NVA (Non Value Added). |
|
|
|
08/24/2006 10:51:53 AM · #17 |
| I was just reading about this. I can see their point, but couldn't they make an exception for lil' ol' Pluto? It just wouldn't be the same to see kids styrofoam science projects with 8 planets instead of 9. |
|
|
|
08/24/2006 10:52:44 AM · #18 |
| Good summary and explanation of the logic behind the decision at space.com. |
|
|
|
08/24/2006 10:58:14 AM · #19 |
Originally posted by strangeghost:
Appears to be no conflict unless you know something about life on pluto (vulcans?).
Originally posted by jhonan:
Doesn't this violate the Prime Directive? - Just wait until the Federation finds out. |
|
I'm going to wait for official word from either Starfleet or the Federation. If that's okay. |
|
|
|
08/24/2006 11:07:32 AM · #20 |
Great, now we can sit around with the grandkids and say "when I was your age, sonny, there were nine planets!" and watch the kids roll their eyes. :/
|
|
|
|
08/24/2006 11:09:15 AM · #21 |
Originally posted by jhonan:
I'm going to wait for official word from either Starfleet or the Federation. If that's okay. |
You're in luck, there's actually a branch office in the U.K., but you might also want to check with these folks. |
|
|
|
08/24/2006 03:57:01 PM · #22 |
Is this a done deal - I've been following the recent debate but - is there an appelate court that Pluto can file a motion to complain, a Supreme Court or something? It's a shame to have other people that you don't even know downgrade you to a celestial object of no importance.
I demand a recount! |
|
|
|
08/24/2006 04:00:16 PM · #23 |
Poor pluto, way out there, cold and lonely. :-(
|
|
|
|
08/24/2006 05:28:37 PM · #24 |
| This will probably cause Mickey Mouse to descend into a serious bout of depression... ;>þ |
|
|
|
08/24/2006 05:43:53 PM · #25 |
Originally posted by idnic:
Great, now we can sit around with the grandkids and say "when I was your age, sonny, there were nine planets!" and watch the kids roll their eyes. :/ |
LOL LOL |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/24/2025 08:43:15 AM EDT.
