enthalpy

Monday, November 22, 2010


I thought we put this one to bed in 2006. For the last time, Pluto is NOT a planet.
Now that Pluto may have regained its status as the largest object in the outer solar system, should astronomers consider giving it back another former title — that of full-fledged planet?

Pluto was demoted to a newly created category, "dwarf planet," in 2006, partly because of the discovery a year earlier of Eris, another icy body from Pluto's neighborhood. Eris was thought to be bigger than Pluto until Nov. 6, when astronomers got a chance to recalculate Eris' size.

Now it appears that Pluto reigns — though only by the slimmest of margins (the numbers are so close as to be nearly indistinguishable, when uncertainties are taken into account).
It's the only "planet" that has an orbit inclined over 10º to the ecliptic. It's also smaller than the moon. Keep Pluto OFF the planet list!

Labels:




Home