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Save Pluto
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Save Pluto |
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Local Rebel Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-21
Posts 5767Southern Abstentia 
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Pluto did it's job 24/7 just making its' way through the drudgery of a distant solar orbit and bam -- out of the clear blue sky -- demotion. Is this fair? Did Pluto ever even complain? No. Because Pluto's the quiet one. Sure. It looks a lot like Goofy -- but it's not. It was out there covering Uranus and now -- Uranus is just exposed to the whole galaxy. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
It is now relegated to the orbituaries  |
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Alicat Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094Coastal Texas |
Just when ya think there's enough disputin to go around, astronomers almost come to blows trying to define 'what is a planet'. I guess in some places they did come to blows. Shame they didn't sell tickets! |
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Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
"If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other" |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
Last time I saw peas in a peapod a pea was still a pea no matter what size it was or how it was held in the pod. If a pea is thus still a pea, a planet Pluto is still thus a planet. |
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Not A Poet Member Elite
since 1999-11-03
Posts 3885Oklahoma, USA |
But the best scientific thinking today is that any non-arbitrary definition of planets that makes Pluto a planet will make hundreds of other objects planets. Scientists are not fond of arbitrary definitions, with good reason. |
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Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
What do you mean? The definition may change, but the literal and etymological root and meaning of the word is still always the same. It is still as the literal meaning of the word planet says "wandering" around the sun and has a greatest likeness to any other planet, nor is it just a moon, or an astroid. Therefore to me it is still a planet. Smaller size doesn't make Pluto no planet anymore than bigger size does Jupiter. |
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Alicat Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094Coastal Texas |
What's the term for it now...plunon or similar? Apparantly, Pluto has company in its new naming: Xena (of all things) and Ceres (located in the Asteroid Belt). |
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Local Rebel Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-21
Posts 5767Southern Abstentia |
Seriously, Pete's right of course. This is a great example of the Scientific process at work -- as we learn more about everything our paradigms have to change in order to reflect that knowledge. Conversely -- I find it appalling that so much energy and resources have been expended on an issue that bears little practical application in the lives of the inhabitants of this rock. |
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Alicat Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094Coastal Texas |
Well, researchers need Porshes too.  |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
quote: Pluto is currently considered what's known as a "dwarf planet", or an object that is in orbit around the Sun and has a hydrostatic equilibrium (or nearly round shape) but, unlike a defined planet, has not "cleared the neighborhood", or that they are celestial bodies which do not clear their orbital areas. But The International Astronomers Union is considering putting together a new category of celestial objects known as "Trans-Neptunian Objects", in which Pluto would serve as their ringleader of sorts, which a Trans-Neptunian Object is considered any object that orbits the sun at a greater distance on average than Neptune (specifically over 200 years to complete an orbit). The category may likely include but will not be limited to the following: * Ceres (A round asteroid and the largest object in the asteroid belt orbiting the sun between Mars and Jupiter) Charon (A moon of Pluto) 2003 UB313, a.k.a Xena (A round Pluto-sized sphere out in the limits of our current space scope) Hygiea Pallas Vesta Ixion Varuna Quaoar Orcus Sedna 2002 TX300 2002 AW197 2003 EL61 2005 FY9. * Actually, Ceres was previously a planet for some time. In 1801, a Catholic monk named Giuseppe Piazzi accidentally discovered Ceres while trying to chart another star, and originally thought it was a comet until it was refuted it was moving too slow to possibly be one, and was declared a planet for about half a century, until more asteroids were discovered and it was considered too small to be a planet. * Who else here thinks Pluto should run as an independent planet?  Sincerely, Noah Eaton "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other" Mother Teresa |
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Carolina Member
since 2001-08-17
Posts 224Myrtle Beach, SC |
Now it will be known as "the planet formerly known as Pluto"  |
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Carolina Member
since 2001-08-17
Posts 224Myrtle Beach, SC |
Prince.. lol just my dry humor... |
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Stephanos
since 2000-07-31
Posts 3618Statesboro, GA, USA |
On the lighthearted side: I actually saw a newspaper article about people picketing against the demotion of this little planet. They were carrying signs which said things like "Size doesn't matter". I almost fell out of my chair with laughter. Stephen. |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
If we're gonna start a campaign to save planets, might I suggest we begin with the planet Earth? and if we wanna get very specific, I'd like to start with the Gulf Coast. (Not that I have a biased interest or anything, but...) If we send ya'll lawyers, guns and Fema promises, will ya'll send psychiatrists? Just a thought from "off the map".  |
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Local Rebel Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-21
Posts 5767Southern Abstentia |
well, how about just the guns? |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
Thanks k, 'cause that's all California needs... more lawyers.  |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
From "The Simpsons": * LIONEL HUTZ: "Can you imagine what the world would be like without lawyers?" (daydreams of world peace and dancing around in circles holding hands) LIONEL HUTZ: (shakes and shivers) Uggghhhhh. * LOL!  Love, Noah Eaton "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other" |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Reb--it's a deal. You can have the guns. YOU just have to come collect 'em.  (One of ours is being held for state's evidence, btw. Now that was interesting. Picture it, will ya? Distraught mother-in-law, wakes me up, "There's a cop at the door!"  and then I go "eek" and then I remembered.... "OH. We're legal now--come in Detective, have a seat."  Wow. |
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Brian James Member
since 2005-06-26
Posts 147Winnipeg |
Now we're going to have to come up with a whole bunch of new mnemonics for grade school children learning about the solar system. I always loved "My Very Excited Mother Just Sat Upon Nine Porcupines." But now what can she have sat upon? Maybe piptalk should spend its time and energy coming up with some new mnemonics for "MVEMJSUN." "To me, the thing that art does for life is to clean it, to strip it to form." |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
My Very Excited Mother-in-law Just Swallowed Unnecessary Nsaids?  OH. You meant for the solar system, huh? heh. Sorry. Ya'll get back to topic. Heh.  |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
There's already one for college students! * "My Very Exotic Maid Just Showed Up Nude" * (giggles)  * Love, Noah Eaton "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other" |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Now that's cute, Noah!  |
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Edward Grim Senior Member
since 2005-12-18
Posts 1154Greenville, South Carolina |
First they toss out the smallest planet, Pluto. Watch out Rhode Island, you might be next, lol. Once you are truly insane, it’s all picnics with Kafka after that. See, it’s the process of going crazy that you gotta worry about. |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
Pluto, what Pluto? http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/09/060915-pluto-name.html You're referring to 134340, right? .......hey, I think that's the combination of my luggage! Sincerely, Noah Eaton "If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other" Mother Teresa |
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