Pluto Has Been Demoted to NON-Planet Status

southcitymom

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http://www.ajc.com/hp/content/shared-gen/ap/Science/Planet_Mutiny.html

Astronomers Say Pluto Is Not a Planet

PRAGUE, Czech Republic — Leading astronomers declared Thursday that Pluto is no longer a planet under historic new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight.

After a tumultuous week of clashing over the essence of the cosmos, the International Astronomical Union stripped Pluto of the planetary status it has held since its discovery in 1930. The new definition of what is — and isn't — a planet fills a centuries-old black hole for scientists who have labored since Copernicus without one.

http://www.ajc.com/hp/content/shared-gen/ap/Science/Planet_Mutiny-image.html



Although astronomers applauded after the vote, Jocelyn Bell Burnell — a specialist in neutron stars from Northern Ireland who oversaw the proceedings — urged those who might be "quite disappointed" to look on the bright side.

"It could be argued that we are creating an umbrella called 'planet' under which the dwarf planets exist," she said, drawing laughter by waving a stuffed Pluto of Walt Disney fame beneath a real umbrella.
 
Can ya just imagine how many grade school kids are gonna get this wrong on some science test in the future? because mom and dad grew up in a life time where there were nine planets not eight? Filing this bit of info away for when my son and nephew are in grade school!
 
I think it's a ploy by the textbook companies!! LOL :)
 
Does that mean he can't work for Disney anymore???? :waitasec:
 
I thought they recently announced they were ADDING 3 more making a total of 12? I'm so confused.

ETA: I see where they say that was just a PROPOSAL. The media made it sound like adding the 3 planets was a done deal! :doh:
 
LOL, I'm sorry, but I had to laugh at Soledad O'Brien on CNN getting teary eyed over this. Anything for ratings.
 
gidget641 said:
Can ya just imagine how many grade school kids are gonna get this wrong on some science test in the future? because mom and dad grew up in a life time where there were nine planets not eight? Filing this bit of info away for when my son and nephew are in grade school!
Or because they can't say My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas. It sounds strange to leave the pizza part off when you put them in order.
 
Dark Knight said:
I thought they recently announced they were ADDING 3 more making a total of 12? I'm so confused.
I heard the same thing. And that they were still going to keep Pluto as a planet, but sort of like a "Planet, Jr."...something odd like that. :confused:
 
I wonder what impact this will have on astrology
 
Annie said:
Or because they can't say My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas. It sounds strange to leave the pizza part off when you put them in order.
Now it will have to be something like My Very Eager Mother Just Saved Us Numbskulls???
 
Dark Knight said:
I thought they recently announced they were ADDING 3 more making a total of 12? I'm so confused.

ETA: I see where they say that was just a PROPOSAL. The media made it sound like adding the 3 planets was a done deal! :doh:
I hadn't heard that, but this morning after reading about Pluto no longer being a planet, I said to my kids "Well, guys, now there is only 8 planets instead of 9, because Pluto isn't a planet!" And they said to "Mom, where have you been? We had 12 planets, so you mean now we only have 11!" Huh?

There I was thinking I was feeding my kids minds and giving them new information, but it turns out they schooled me, and told me so.:laugh:
 
julianne said:
I hadn't heard that, but this morning after reading about Pluto no longer being a planet, I said to my kids "Well, guys, now there is only 8 planets instead of 9, because Pluto isn't a planet!" And they said to "Mom, where have you been? We had 12 planets, so you mean now we only have 11!" Huh?

There I was thinking I was feeding my kids minds and giving them new information, but it turns out they schooled me, and told me so.:laugh:
Don't give up so easily. There were nine and now there are eight. They said the other day there may be some more out there but I don't think they have been officially named planets. I thought they were going to name more but now they have taken one away.
 
This make me very sad!! Along the same line...

How many oceans are there? :confused: :confused: :confused:

My high school daughter came in the house and we had this debate last night.
The answer(s) surprised me!

I'll give ya a sec to think on it... ;)

Lynie
 
Okay...my answer was
Five. Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic and Antarctic.

One site we visited said North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Indian and Arctic.

Another said Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic

I said "Whoa! Southern?" Come to find out that Antarctic was renamed Southern...but some sites don't mention either!

How about you? :D :D :D

Lynie
 
I had some fun - I turned to my husband and said - "Wow - there are only 8 planets in the solar system now!" He took the false implication I was going for, and was wondering if something had been hit with a comet or otherwise knocked out of orbit....:angel: :liar:
 
i think they demoted pluto to a "dwarf" planet and gave those other that would have made the 12 the same status as "dwarf".

mr. izzyB and i had the privilege of meeting mr. clyde tombaugh, the man who discovered pluto. it was always a personal thrill for me to have met him! so i am a little sad, but it does not minimize the fine work he did in finding this now-considered "dwarf" planet. i am 55, so probably pluto will always be a planet to me.
 
LinetteH said:
I think it's a ploy by the textbook companies!! LOL :)

That's exactly what I said last night when I heard this! Can you imagine all the textbooks that are now obsolete?!
 
I've always taught it as 'My very educated mother just served us nine pizzas.' I guess now it'll be 'My very educated mother just served us...nothing.' ;)
 

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