Re: Overall disappointing...

On 24 Aug 2006 16:03:11 -0700, wiiwiillwiin@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

The discovery of Pluto led to many questions about the planet. One of
the most puzzling was the fact that Lowell had predicted that Planet X
would have a mass 6.6 times that of Earth. The tiny dot that was
actually discovered could not possibly be that big, unless it was
extraordinarily dark. Estimates of its diameter, for example, ranged
from 6,000 to 14,000 kilometers. After the discovery of Charon in
1978, which permitted determination of the mass through a few simple
calculations, the mass of the Pluto system was determined to be about
500 times smaller than that of the Earth.

Labeling Pluto as a Planet was a huge long-term mistake and I am glad
that it is now corrected. We don't want a Solar System were 783 Pluto
like objects are considered on the same scale as the Classic 8
Planets.

Part of Sciene is accepting change. The new definition is not perfect
but it is a step in the modern direction.

-- Kevin Heider

West Coast Swing Photos at:
http://www.pbase.com/kheider
.

Relevant Pages

  • 10th Planet "Discovered"
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  • 10th Planet "Discovered"
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    (sci.space.policy)
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    ... Discovery of Pluto Reaches 75th Anniversary ... AZ - The planet Pluto turns 75 this month. ... photographs at Lowell Observatory. ...
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  • Re: Overall disappointing...
    ... the most puzzling was the fact that Lowell had predicted that Planet X ... would have a mass 6.6 times that of Earth. ... Labeling Pluto as a Planet was a huge long-term mistake and I am glad ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)