Pluto gets booted out of the family of planets!!!

[Obstructed_View]

Pluto is believed to be 70% rock and 30% ice. Its orbit is reverse from the planets, and from 1979 to 1999, it was the eighth planet from the sun. In addition to having a unique elliptical orbit, and not qualifying as either a terrestrial or gas giant planet, as every other planet in the solar system does, Pluto and Charon are by definition a double planet system, due to their orbit around a center of mass that lies between them.

The worst part is I now have to teach my three year old to stop after Neptune.

[jochhejaam]

Pluto is believed to be 70% rock and 30% ice. Its orbit is reverse from the planets, and from 1979 to 1999, it was the eighth planet from the sun. In addition to having a unique elliptical orbit, and not qualifying as either a terrestrial or gas giant planet, as every other planet in the solar system does, Pluto and Charon are by definition a double planet system, due to their orbit around a center of mass that lies between them.

The worst part is I now have to teach my three year old to stop after Neptune.

There used to be a line that was supposed help to you identify the Planets

Mary's Violet Eyes Made Johnny Stay Up Nights Planning.
They'll have to find a new one now.

[Obstructed_View]

There used to be a line that was supposed help to you identify the Planets

Mary's Violet Eyes Made Johnny Stay Up Nights Planning.
They'll have to find a new one now.

My kid knew the planets when he was two; I'd say that someone who needs a crutch to memorize eight planets shouldn't qualify for a driver's license.

[RandomGuy]

My kid new the planets when he was two; I'd say that someone who needs a crutch to memorize eight planets shouldn't qualify for a driver's license.

Heh, that's nothing, MY two year old could name 12 different makes of cars by their grill ornaments. He thought it was very cool that each one of those symbols had a name, and asked constantly after we parked at the playground we take him to. Made for a neat trick to show off to the guys.

[Fillmoe]

Pluto >>>>>>>>>>>>> Earth you ing beezys!

this is the worst news i have heard all day!

[MannyIsGod]

How it the world do you know it is "just a rock?" Not even the best scientists and astronomers know for sure.

Have you been there? What do you have to back up that statement?


New flash:
Neither is Earth, Mars, Mercury, or Venus, I guess that rules out Earth being a planet according to you.

Here again so is Mercury...so it is not a planet?

This is just a stupid statement..... an and Europa are in the gravitational pull of a larger body and orbit around that (Jupiter).
Pluto is a totally different situation.

Pluto and Charon share a center of gravity they both orbit. Neither is an orbit around another. Pluto has an orbit much closer to that of a comet.

But really, in the end, does it matter what its called? The thing is closer to Kupier belt object - its a big comet - so what is the real effect of calling it what it is?

Damn, I can't believe I'm arguing this .

[cherylsteele]

Pluto and Charon share a center of gravity they both orbit. Neither is an orbit around another. Pluto has an orbit much closer to that of a comet.

But really, in the end, does it matter what its called? The thing is closer to Kupier belt object - its a big comet - so what is the real effect of calling it what it is?

Damn, I can't believe I'm arguing this .

I know that about the gravity part...this is a fairly recent discovery.

I grew up learning that there are 9 planets in the solar system...and now saying there are 8......that would be like saying there are 6 continents and now Australia is only an Island.


I was replying to sabar and his post where according to him/her alot more the of the planets would not be planets.

[boutons_]

I grew learning that the earth if flat ... now they are saying it is round ... that would be like saying the earth rotates around the sun.