The 10th Planet

[Suburbanite]

This is one of the few times I would bother talking about Science, but...

Astronomers have detected what could be the Solar System's 10th planet.
It was first seen by astronomers using California's Mount Palomar Observatory, and has been given the name "Sedna" after the Inuit goddess of the ocean.

Observations show it measures about 1,180-2,360km (730-1,470 miles) across, making it similar in size to Pluto.

Astronomers now say they have evidence that Sedna has its own moon, although this needs to be confirmed, and is also very red in colour.

There is likely to be some debate about whether it qualifies as a true planet, but some scientists are already saying it re-defines our Solar System.


Continued

There was debate several years ago as to whether Pluto should be considered a planet. Planetoid or some other term was suggested since Pluto is so small. I doubt the new body will be considered a true planet. It would be rather cool though to add one to the Solar System.

[Suburbanite]

yea, i think the more planet we have on our side during the up and coming solar system wars the better

[Pooeypants]

I for one would be inclined to side with the astronomers who view that Pluto doesn't quite count as a Planet, thus this new astro body definitely wouldn't be considered one either.

[Resolute]

I think the issue here isn't so much the proper classification of this stellar body, but why the Scientific community still doesn't have true classifications for stellar bodies. We've known the basic mechanics of the universe for at least 500 years, and yet we still can't say "This is a planet" or "This is an asteroid" without breaking into heated debate.

On some levels, scientists are the stupidest of all.

[Suburbanite]

Resolute, that picture is way too big

[Mia]

WAY too big.

[uschi]

Is this a new one? The last I heard was a year ago and they deemed that one a Kuiper(sp) belt asteroid. What makes them want to make this one a planet? Is it because it has a moon? It was my understanding that orbiting objects is no uncommon in the universe.

Personally, I think they should leave Pluto as a planet just because it already "is" one. Other than that, I figure any new Pluto/Charon/Titan objects found should be left well enough alone. I mean, otherwise they'll be naming "planets" every other year as they discover new identifiable objects with their better and better telescopes. Besides, Pluto interrupts the orbit of a real planet. These others are just cruising along almost independantly.

[RocketScientist]

Resolute: We do have a classifications for stellar bodies, its called the International Astronomical Union (Iau), they have the sole right of determining what is something and what it isn't. For now they call Pluto a planet although there is some very strong evidence that it isn't for example its extremely elliptical orbit (similar to those objects in the Kuiper belt -uschi that was correct), and the simple fact that Charon and Pluto rotate around one another, and Pluto orbits the Sun once every 250 years, since its discovery by Thromberg in 1930, we haven't even begun to understand Pluto much less see its entire orbit. To add to it "Planetary" classification, Pluto is round like a planet and has an atmosphere. As far as Sedna is concerned we do not know enough about it to classify it yet, that is what observation is for.

Hey Resolute, get rid of the picture.