'Tenth Planet' found to be a whopper

news@nature.com ^ | 1 February 2006 | Mark Peplow

[SunkenCiv]

URL corrections:

http://news.nature.com/news/2006/060130/060130-7.html
http://www.nature.com/news/2006/060130/multimedia/060130-7_m1.html

[SunkenCiv]

Correction to the corrections:

http://www.nature.com/news/2006/060130/full/060130-7.html

[SunkenCiv]

Mike Brown (co-discoverer) suggested an already-used name from the asteroids (Persephone I think), so you're in good company. :') Ceres may eventually make it to the domain of the planets (maybe not soon, but it could happen) because it is big (until recent Kuiper Belt discoveries, Ceres had as much material as all other asteroids combined) and is basically spherical.

[SunkenCiv]

I feel kinda sorry for the astronomer who discovered what he thought was a planet in orbit around Barnard's Star. While he may have wound up with bupkis, there's some possibility that he'll be vindicated. Dunno if anyone has tried with the latest and greatest technology (other than the Hubble ST). Gliese 793 was found to have a similar wobble using the same equipment, so Barnard's Star's wobble is generally believed to have been a problem with the mechanism of the instrument itself, rather than an actual slight wobble of the star. It would be amusing if Gliese 793 and Barnard's star both wound up having planets detected around them. :')

Google

[ModelBreaker]

Some astronomers argue that Pluto should be stripped of its title, to become a Kuiper Belt Object like its orbital fellows. Others suggest that anything larger than Pluto found in the outskirts of the Solar System should also be called a 'planet', which would include UB313. "I'd prefer to keep Pluto as a planet, for historical reasons," says Bertoldi.

It'll have to be named "Kwanza" after the loonies start whining that Neptune, Jupiter etc are all dead white guys.

[SunkenCiv]

"To Pluto And Far Beyond" By David H. Levy, Parade, January 15, 2006 -- We don't have a dictionary definition yet that includes all the contingencies. In the wake of the new discovery, however, the International Astronomical Union has set up a group to develop a workable definition of planet. For our part, in consultation with several experienced planetary astronomers, Parade offers this definition: A planet is a body large enough that, when it formed, it condensed under its own gravity to be shaped like a sphere. It orbits a star directly and is not a moon of another planet.

[MillerCreek]

A very great deal (is "out there...very large...lurking"), is my best guess.

[piasa]

Of course, Ceres was the goddess of motherly love and agriculture (or something), which kinda clashes with a cold, barren, icy rock floating around millions of miles away from the sun...

Are you sure there isn't a Helen Thomas in ancient mythology? She's old enough.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Let's see ......

We go from calling the sun Greek and Roman the god itself.

To naming the visible planets after other Greek and Roman gods.

To naming new planets and moons after classic Greek and Roman gods from mythology.

To naming mythological TV and movie characters after classic Greek and Roman gods.

To naming newly-created mythological TV and movie characters after made-up Greek and Roman characters named similar to the classic manner.

To naming newly-discovered planets and moons after mythological TV and movie characters named after made-up Greek and Roman characters named similar to the classic manner.

[Robert A Cook PE]

It'll have to be named "Kwanza" after the loonies start whining that Neptune, Jupiter etc are all dead white gods.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Any moon/dirt/rings around Ceres?

[Michael Goldsberry]

Rupert!

[Rebelbase]

Planet Brokeback.

[johnny7]

It could use some shrubbery.

[Allegra]

Finbar!

[theDentist]

How long does it take to orbit our Sun?

[Squantos]

Is this bigger than Uranus ?

[Allegra]

I wonder how one of the "Brokeback Mountain" guys would answer that question?

[Squantos]

Eaker will know he has a glass belly button !