Re: Smoke one...


"Miss Elaine Eos" <Misc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote
...For Pluto, once again recognized for all of its planetary goodness*.

Misc "...as God intended!"

<http://news.nationalgeographic.co.uk/news/2009/03/090311-pluto-planet-il
linois.html>


Actually, the Illinois legislature didn't recognize the un-planet Pluto so
much as it's discoverer, a native of Illinois. Nonetheless, I felt betrayed
when it's status was downgraded from planet to "great big thing out there
past Uranus". Here's a report from National Geographic on why they trashed
it:

"According to the new definition, a full-fledged planet is an object that
orbits the sun and is large enough to have become round due to the force of
its own gravity. In addition, a planet has to dominate the neighborhood
around its orbit.
Pluto has been demoted because it does not dominate its neighborhood.
Charon, its large "moon," is only about half the size of Pluto, while all
the true planets are far larger than their moons.

In addition, bodies that dominate their neighborhoods, "sweep up" asteroids,
comets, and other debris, clearing a path along their orbits. By contrast,
Pluto's orbit is somewhat untidy."

I understand the reasoning, but still, it's a planet in fact, if not in name
as far as I'm concerned.

Personally, I think it was a clear case of satanic discrimination based on
Pluto being the Roman god of the underworld. If it had been named the latin
equivalent of "cute little puppy" (pulcher catellus(?)) it would still be a
planet.

Michael
New Orleans, Louisiana USA fermanis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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