Pluto: Planet or Not?

[God Kefka]

You mean what I learned in grade school was wrong?

Yes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto

Discovered in 1930, Pluto was originally classified as the ninth planet from the Sun. Its status as a major planet fell into question...

...The understanding that Pluto is only one of several large icy bodies in the outer Solar System prompted the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to formally define what it means to be a "planet" in 2006. This definition excluded Pluto and reclassified it as a member of the new "dwarf planet" category...

OH... MY... GOD.

0_0

So it's officially no longer a planet? WHAT?!

But this is so silly. How can Pluto ''not be a planet'' if it is a ''dwarf planet''?

I think these scientists are just making things up to try and increase funding for space research...

But yeah how on Earth was I supposed to know they did something this obscure in 2005 or whenever? I don't read science articles on space for fun in my spare time you know...

how did the rest of you come across this piece of space trivia?

[Wisconsin9]

Yes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto

Discovered in 1930, Pluto was originally classified as the ninth planet from the Sun. Its status as a major planet fell into question...

...The understanding that Pluto is only one of several large icy bodies in the outer Solar System prompted the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to formally define what it means to be a "planet" in 2006. This definition excluded Pluto and reclassified it as a member of the new "dwarf planet" category...

OH... MY... GOD.

0_0

So it's officially no longer a planet? WHAT?!

But this is so silly. How can Pluto ''not be a planet'' if it is a ''dwarf planet''?

I think these scientists are just making things up to try and increase funding for space research...

But yeah how on Earth was I supposed to know they did something this obscure in 2005 or whenever? I don't read science articles on space for fun in my spare time you know...

how did the rest of you come across this piece of space trivia?

Dude, it's not obscure. It was all the fuck over the place in '06, and it's never really dropped since then. This is the second or third thread on it I've been in. Hell, I remember holding an opinion about this back when it was news.

[God Kefka]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto



OH... MY... GOD.

0_0

So it's officially no longer a planet? WHAT?!

But this is so silly. How can Pluto ''not be a planet'' if it is a ''dwarf planet''?

I think these scientists are just making things up to try and increase funding for space research...

But yeah how on Earth was I supposed to know they did something this obscure in 2005 or whenever? I don't read science articles on space for fun in my spare time you know...

how did the rest of you come across this piece of space trivia?

Dude, it's not obscure. It was all the fuck over the place in '06, and it's never really dropped since then. This is the second or third thread on it I've been in. Hell, I remember holding an opinion about this back when it was news.

i see...

hmmm...

[Olthar]

how did the rest of you come across this piece of space trivia?

Because people won't stop bitching and moaning about it.

[The Corparation]

I think these scientists are just making things up to try and increase funding for space research...

Yes, the IAU in charge of Astronomy worldwide decided to create a formal definition of Planet as a way to get funding (Not sure how that would even work?) They obviously didn't do this as a way to make their job of classifying all the new astronomical objects they were discovering easier. Nope. No way. It was all for the money.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

how did the rest of you come across this piece of space trivia?

Because people won't stop bitching and moaning about it.

I honestly completely forgot about it and didn't care until now.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

I kind of like 'dwarf planet' I find myself wondering if there are seven of them.

[The Corparation]

I kind of like 'dwarf planet' I find myself wondering if there are seven of them.

Sadly right now there are only five official one. Of course there's over 100 we know of that are probably dwarf planets but we haven't gotten around to checking yet, and thousands more we haven't seen yet. The Kuiper belt (Home of Pluto) alone is probably home to couple hundred.

[God Kefka]

I think these scientists are just making things up to try and increase funding for space research...

Yes, the IAU in charge of Astronomy worldwide decided to create a formal definition of Planet as a way to get funding (Not sure how that would even work?) They obviously didn't do this as a way to make their job of classifying all the new astronomical objects they were discovering easier. Nope. No way. It was all for the money.

you know... generating public controversy and attention. Remind us that they exist...

I mean let's face it, aside from satellites space travel hasn't brought anything really that practical and applicable to modern life. It's largely devolved into a kind of dick-waving contest between countries with too much money and quite a lot of ego (ex US and China).

Hell if it were up to me, I'd get rid of NASA and such agencies and spend the money on something that actually benefits the people directly, like welfare, healthcare and whatnot.

[Soldati Senza Confini]

Yes, the IAU in charge of Astronomy worldwide decided to create a formal definition of Planet as a way to get funding (Not sure how that would even work?) They obviously didn't do this as a way to make their job of classifying all the new astronomical objects they were discovering easier. Nope. No way. It was all for the money.

you know... generating public controversy and attention. Remind us that they exist...

I mean let's face it, aside from satellites space travel hasn't brought anything really that practical and applicable to modern life. It's largely devolved into a kind of dick-waving contest between countries with too much money and quite a lot of ego (ex US and China).

Hell if it were up to me, I'd get rid of NASA and such agencies and spend the money on something that actually benefits the people directly, like welfare, healthcare and whatnot.

You're not serious, are you?

[The Corparation]

Yes, the IAU in charge of Astronomy worldwide decided to create a formal definition of Planet as a way to get funding (Not sure how that would even work?) They obviously didn't do this as a way to make their job of classifying all the new astronomical objects they were discovering easier. Nope. No way. It was all for the money.

you know... generating public controversy and attention. Remind us that they exist...

I mean let's face it, aside from satellites space travel hasn't brought anything really that practical and applicable to modern life. It's largely devolved into a kind of dick-waving contest between countries with too much money and quite a lot of ego (ex US and China).

Hell if it were up to me, I'd get rid of NASA and such agencies and spend the money on something that actually benefits the people directly, like welfare, healthcare and whatnot.

Yah bro NASA's Space Travel totally doesn't do anything to benefit the people directly.
I will add that this list is not complete and also does not count a good deal of things that already existed and NASA merely improved upon, or Spin-offs of the Spin-offs listed. Dollar for Dollar NASA is easily been one of the most beneficial government Agencies. The return on investment is huge.

[God Kefka]

you know... generating public controversy and attention. Remind us that they exist...

I mean let's face it, aside from satellites space travel hasn't brought anything really that practical and applicable to modern life. It's largely devolved into a kind of dick-waving contest between countries with too much money and quite a lot of ego (ex US and China).

Hell if it were up to me, I'd get rid of NASA and such agencies and spend the money on something that actually benefits the people directly, like welfare, healthcare and whatnot.

Yah bro NASA's Space Travel totally doesn't do anything to benefit the people directly.
I will add that this list is not complete and also does not count a good deal of things that already existed and NASA merely improved upon, or Spin-offs of the Spin-offs listed. Dollar for Dollar NASA is easily been one of the most beneficial government Agencies. The return on investment is huge.

i don't understand any of it... it's suspiciously over-technical.

how do I know it's real? I mean I can't really take NASA's word for it right?

Also... it's not like this stuff is sold in consumer markets and are entering people's homes in large numbers or seeing mass application in industry etc.... right?

[God Kefka]

you know... generating public controversy and attention. Remind us that they exist...

I mean let's face it, aside from satellites space travel hasn't brought anything really that practical and applicable to modern life. It's largely devolved into a kind of dick-waving contest between countries with too much money and quite a lot of ego (ex US and China).

Hell if it were up to me, I'd get rid of NASA and such agencies and spend the money on something that actually benefits the people directly, like welfare, healthcare and whatnot.

You're not serious, are you?

well I'll at least admit that Google Earth and satellites have some use...

[Soldati Senza Confini]

Yah bro NASA's Space Travel totally doesn't do anything to benefit the people directly.
I will add that this list is not complete and also does not count a good deal of things that already existed and NASA merely improved upon, or Spin-offs of the Spin-offs listed. Dollar for Dollar NASA is easily been one of the most beneficial government Agencies. The return on investment is huge.

i don't understand any of it... it's suspiciously over-technical.

how do I know it's real? I mean I can't really take NASA's word for it right?

Also... it's not like this stuff is sold in consumer markets and are entering people's homes in large numbers or seeing mass application in industry etc.... right?

Hmm... there's a lot of things that are in direct contact with you.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

I kind of like 'dwarf planet' I find myself wondering if there are seven of them.

Sadly right now there are only five official one. Of course there's over 100 we know of that are probably dwarf planets but we haven't gotten around to checking yet, and thousands more we haven't seen yet. The Kuiper belt (Home of Pluto) alone is probably home to couple hundred.

My favorite so far is Haumea because it's messing with scientist by being big enough where it ought to be nearly spherical, but being ellipsoid instead. When scientists ask, 'Why?' it responds, 'Because Fuck You, that's why.'.

[God Kefka]

i don't understand any of it... it's suspiciously over-technical.

how do I know it's real? I mean I can't really take NASA's word for it right?

Also... it's not like this stuff is sold in consumer markets and are entering people's homes in large numbers or seeing mass application in industry etc.... right?

Have you ever heard of plastic?

the stuff that's good for making soda bottles am i rite?

[Soldati Senza Confini]

Have you ever heard of plastic?

the stuff that's good for making soda bottles am i rite?

Not only soda bottles but also plastic bags.

Also fuck it, your window insulation, the infrared your computer is using and any infrared source, the equipment used to check the water quality at your treatment plant, methane-powered cars, etc.

[The Corparation]

Yah bro NASA's Space Travel totally doesn't do anything to benefit the people directly.
I will add that this list is not complete and also does not count a good deal of things that already existed and NASA merely improved upon, or Spin-offs of the Spin-offs listed. Dollar for Dollar NASA is easily been one of the most beneficial government Agencies. The return on investment is huge.

i don't understand any of it... it's suspiciously over-technical.

how do I know it's real? I mean I can't really take NASA's word for it right?

Also... it's not like this stuff is sold in consumer markets and are entering people's homes in large numbers or seeing mass application in industry etc.... right?

Newer ones are more technical. But scroll down the bottom and you'll find simple ones that even the most feeble minded can understand. Actually bother reading some of them and you'll find a lot of them are in people's homes or in wide use in countless industries. Some of it is mundane household stuff like Foam Mattress pads, fancy eyeglasses that bend back themselves into shape, and others are industry things (Anything related to Airliner Safety within the past 50 years, or if you're boring Dairy Equipment Lubrication!), and then there's countless generic advancements in shit like composite materials, computing, sensor equipment, fabrication techniques, etc etc, that see use in countless industries and products. Long story short if something has become cheaper, more common and/or lighter within the past 50 years, there's a decent chance that somewhere along the linage of technology that went into that object was something that started at NASA or was improved by NASA.

[AiliailiA]

Sadly right now there are only five official one. Of course there's over 100 we know of that are probably dwarf planets but we haven't gotten around to checking yet, and thousands more we haven't seen yet. The Kuiper belt (Home of Pluto) alone is probably home to couple hundred.

My favorite so far is Haumea because it's messing with scientist by being big enough where it ought to be nearly spherical, but being ellipsoid instead. When scientists ask, 'Why?' it responds, 'Because Fuck You, that's why.'.

Well, a dense and rigid elongated core, rounded out with light and maleable material. In other worse, a huge gun disguised as a snowball. I say we leave it alone ...

[Tekania]

I think these scientists are just making things up to try and increase funding for space research...

Yes, the IAU in charge of Astronomy worldwide decided to create a formal definition of Planet as a way to get funding (Not sure how that would even work?) They obviously didn't do this as a way to make their job of classifying all the new astronomical objects they were discovering easier. Nope. No way. It was all for the money.

1. Finally create some formal definitions for solar system satellite types.
2. New definition excludes Pluto (and other bodies)
3. ????
4. Profit.

[Tekania]

Sadly right now there are only five official one. Of course there's over 100 we know of that are probably dwarf planets but we haven't gotten around to checking yet, and thousands more we haven't seen yet. The Kuiper belt (Home of Pluto) alone is probably home to couple hundred.

My favorite so far is Haumea because it's messing with scientist by being big enough where it ought to be nearly spherical, but being ellipsoid instead. When scientists ask, 'Why?' it responds, 'Because Fuck You, that's why.'.

It's trolling them. We need Universal Mods to issue warnings to it.

[Magna Libero]

No, no. You all got it wrong, it's a dog.

Scientifically, it's not a planet. It's a dwarf planet.

[Basking Turtles]

Yah bro NASA's Space Travel totally doesn't do anything to benefit the people directly.
I will add that this list is not complete and also does not count a good deal of things that already existed and NASA merely improved upon, or Spin-offs of the Spin-offs listed. Dollar for Dollar NASA is easily been one of the most beneficial government Agencies. The return on investment is huge.

That is the most awesome list I've seen in a long time. Thank you for linking this.

[Cocorico113]

Pluto is not a planet because it does not conform to the the criteria decided by the International Astronomical Union in 2006. Part three of the criteria states that 'it must have cleared other objects out of the way in its orbital neighborhood'. This directly contradicts our observations of Pluto as it is present in the 'Kuiper Belt along with 43 other known Kuiper Belt Objects'
Source;
http://missionscience.nasa.gov/nasascie ... lanet.html

[Margno]

It's even in the planets song. NEPTUNE'S REALLY WINDY, AND PLUTO'S REALLY SMALL, WELL WE WANTED TO NAME THE PLANETS, AND NOW WE'VE NAMED THEM ALL! That's my childhood, man. Damn scientists killed Pluto.