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

brian@xxxxxxx (Brian Tung) wrote:
That would only make sense if the resonance were 1:1. I don't think
that's very likely for an object not in one of the stable Lagrange
points (L4 or L5). I'm pretty sure that such an object would get
ejected if it weren't massive enough, and if it were massive enough, it
would probably do something like the event that created our Moon.

I don't understand why it would it only make sense for a 1:1
resonance, given there's an interaction in the case of Neptune and
Pluto that maintains the orbits as they are. The orbital ratios are
not 1:1. The trojans' location are maintained by the presence of
Jupiter. Pluto is more vulnerable to being grabbed away, because it is
more often out of Neptune's direct influnce. But the mechanism and
outcome is the same: the large planets maintain the orbits of their
subordinates. It's a system.

I think intuitively, we think of a satellite as an object that is always
near the parent planet, not something that could, at times, be all the
way on the other side of the Sun.

That's exactly my point and question: Is it reasonable to consider
orbiting systems as involving more than the classical idea of one
object running circles around another? I concede that "orbit" is the
wrong term. But the interaction exists, maintains the system as it is,
and therefore nomenclature should at least provide for expanding the
concept of "system". A "flock" of planets (Neptune "shepherding"
Pluto, ala Saturn's shepherd moons)? Instead of moons, "sheep"?
(okay, silly...)

But the terminology is not my point. The concepts of systems involving
entire rings or bands of orbits, and consideration of those entire
systems when defining what a "planet" would be my point.

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

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Smoke one...
    ... the Illinois legislature didn't recognize the un-planet Pluto so ... when it's status was downgraded from planet to "great big thing out there ... Pluto has been demoted because it does not dominate its neighborhood. ... comets, and other debris, clearing a path along their orbits. ...
    (alt.smokers.cigars)
  • Re: Planet Definition revised
    ... the larger one is a planet and the smaller one ... larger bodies' orbits is not new. ... so we could pick a size that sometimes has an atmosphere. ... Can the status of Pluto be changed every two years? ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: WTF
    ... Do you think "they" would tell you about a planet with ... Orbits are driven by gravity, ... Remember when Pluto was demoted? ...
    (rec.gambling.poker)
  • Re: NBC my reality is being messed with
    ... The planet, not Mickey's doggie. ... Until we get to the outer planets the orbits are basically all in one plane ... scientists have argued for quite a while now that Pluto isn't really a ... before this 10th planet was announced other scientists announced that they ...
    (rec.music.artists.springsteen)
  • Re: Pluto/Neptune resonance question
    ... Earth and Mars are in an 2:1 resonance, ... Clearing their space in orbit? ... earth is not considered a planet? ... stripped Pluto of its planethood. ...
    (sci.space.history)
Quantcast