Re: I'm not convinced that the new definition excludes Pluto...

Per Erik Jorde <perik@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
There are many other objects in Pluto's vicinity. Approximately 25%
of all known trans-Neptunian objects share the same 3:2 resonance with
Neptuns as Pluto does and are sometimes referred to as "Plutinos"
(see http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/~jewitt/kb/plutino.html)

Hmm... Perhaps the definitions of "planetary system" and "orbit"
should be re-examined.

If Pluto and several other KBOs have orbits influenced by Neptune (I
assume, rather than Neptune's orbit having been influenced into
resonance by the KBOs), then perhaps these orbits should be considered
as around Neptune. It's not a classical orbit (centered around a
massive body), but it seems that these are all part of a single
system.

That of course, would mean Pluto is a moon of Neptune.

It would also address the issue of the Trojan asteroids. They would be
moons of Jupiter, as Jupiter is the determining factor for the
location of the stable points in its track.

Ceres would be a planet, if we wanted to continue the
roundness/independent-orbit definition. But there are (probably)
scores of oblate spheroid KBOs in their own, unlocked, stable orbits
(around the Sun).

=============
- Dale Gombert (SkySea at aol.com)
122.38W, 47.58N, W. Seattle, WA
http://flavorj.com/~skysea
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Relevant Pages

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