Astronomers discover 'new planet' (Solar System's 10th planet!)

[IndianaGreen]

Last Updated: Monday, 15 March, 2004, 01:12 GMT
Astronomers discover 'new planet'

By Dr David Whitehouse
BBC News Online science editor

Astronomers have detected what could be the Solar System's 10th planet.

Found further away than other planets by the recently launched Spitzer Space Telescope, it has been called Sedna after the Inuit goddess of the ocean.

Observations show it is about 2,000 km across and it may even be larger than Pluto, which is 2,250 km across.

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

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3511678.stm

[acmavm]

1. And to think the new planet was discovered without the benefit of

all the dumb ass space crap that's been proposed by the crackpot in the White House.

[pmbryant]

2. I guess it's about as good a planet as Pluto is

I'm curious as to how far out it is exactly.

:shrug:

Peter

[JaySherman]

3. Considering it's debatable

whether Pluto even merits being called a planet, I'm a skeptical about the significance of of this latest find. I don't see it redefining the Solar System if it's another glorified asteroid. Be interested to learn more though.

[jeanmarc]

5. Larger than Pluto and revolves around the sun

It's a solar system planet. Pluto established 'precedent'. I've seen definitions for 'life' and viruses are sometimes left out, but what is a definition of a planet if this one doesn't qualify? Do they have to have an atmosphere?

[pmbryant]

9. 'May' be larger than Pluto

When Pluto was first discovered in 1930, it was believed to be far larger than it turned out to be. It took 40-50 years to figure out how small it really was.

Still, until now, no other body in the Solar System has been found that orbited the Sun and was roughly equivalent in size. Even the largest new asteroids were several times smaller than Pluto, I believe.

This doesn't 'redefine' the Solar System. The boundary between what is called a planet, and what is called an asteroid is completely arbitrary, really. Perhaps this new discovery will mess with the arbitrary dividing line, but that is about it. So we'll either have 10 'planets' or just 8. I think eliminating Pluto as an official planet is a cleaner solution.

Pluto is more a 'planet' by tradition than by anything else.

--Peter

[flaminbats]

15. Pluto has a thin atmosphere and a moon...

for me, either one of those is enough to classify a Kuiper Belt Object as a planet.

[Occulus]

26. It's a satellite of Sol

I guess, if it has a locally regular orbit with a stable axis and is larger than Pluto, it's a planet.

And no, planets need not have an atmosphere.

[CO Liberal]

4. As Long as They Don't Rename it "Reagan"

:-)

[minkyboodle]

22. or the Freedom Planet

:)

[Joanne98]

6. What will this do to astrology?

Does this mean there's a thirteeth sign? :)

[freeforall]

14. Well...

We'd wait to hear from the astronomers before considering assigning it rulership of a zodiac sign because it may not really be classified as a planet. There wouldn't be a 13th sign added. Not likely anyway. There are two Sun signs that are ruled by Mercury - Gemini and Virgo, and two ruled by Venus - Taurus and Libra. If the nature of the new planet (after years of observation) was seen as reflecting the characteristics of one of the signs, it would probably be deemed its ruler.

[Dogmudgeon]

24. Virgo or Libra would get it

The pattern has been to let the earlier sign keep the original planet, and give the new planet to the later sign. (Earlier and Later in relation to the astrological year.)

For instance, before the discovery of Pluto, Mars ruled Scorpio; now, Pluto rules Scorpio.

In astrological lore, Virgo and Libra are somewhat similar, having to so with evaluation, balance, and moderation. It is said that Virgo is more analytical, and Libra is more idealistic. The fact that Sedna (the new planet) is the Inuit deity of the seas has nothing to do with its astrological assignment -- Aquarius, the water carrier, is an air sign, and is ruled by Uranus (and traditionally, Saturn).

If Aznar is followed by Bush, Blair, Chirac and Berlusconi to the Unemployed Despots' Club, I would expect Sedna to be assigned to Libra. If the world-wide hegemony holds, then Virgo will probably get it. (Currently, a few astrologers assign the asteroids Ceres and Vesta to Libra, Juno and Pallas to Virgo.)

This would be a difficult choice to make. With the discoveries of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, the rulerships were pretty easy -- the proto-Semitic and Indo-European deities are well-defined and somewhat interchangable. Sedna is from an entirely different tradition. S/He would correspond to Neptune/Poseidon, but the Inuits probably cast Sedna in a far different role.

Incidentally, while I studied astrology many years ago, I'm not a "believer". But I do believe in culture, and astrology is one of the things from which our culture was built. Welcoming new gods and goddesses from other traditions won't necessarily make me change my schedule of burnt offerings, but it does have an effect on the culure in which I live.

--bkl

[stevedeshazer]

7. Does it have oil?

Sincerely,

Dick and Condi

[leftofthedial]

19. I believe so

Quick! I'll set up a dictator so we can liberate it later.

Rummy

[flaminbats]

20. this depends on how many cybermen it once had...

[Minstrel Boy]

8. I think the asteroid Ceres should be considered a planet, too.

It's far larger than any other asteroid (diameter of approx 1,000 km, I think), has a stable solar orbit (between Mars and Jupiter) and is the only one which is spherical. It can even be seen with the naked eye.

[arcos]

21. I agree! n/t

[Dogmudgeon]

25. What they call planets these days

There is really no good agreement on what constitutes a planet. Astronomers with planets are like Supreme Court judges with porn -- "I know it when I see it!"

Ceres, the last time I heard, checked in at about 800 km in diameter. But most all of the asteroids over 100 km in largest dimension are spherical, though some obviously have "flaws".

Also, the "Big Four" asteroids -- Ceres, Pallas, Vesta, and Juno -- can all be seen with the naked eye, though only Vesta is consistently visible. Other asteroids, such as Eros, can also be seen by the naked eye under excellent viewing conditions during most favorable approaches.

I don't think they should be considered true planets. As it is, astrophysicists have started to classify celestial objects by their properties. If your arrange planets, moons, and asteroids by size and density, they fall into well-defined groups. And that's the key to it.

For instance, the Jovian moon Europa has more in common with the Earth or Mars than the other three major Jovian moons (Ganymede, Callisto, and Io). Europa is a Stony Planet-Sized Object and the other three are Icy Planet-Sized Objects. Pluto and Sedna would possibly be Stony Extra-Neptunian Planets; Charon and Quaoar would be Icy Extra-Neptunian Objects or Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs). And every astronomer has his or her own pet name for the object's class! Some astronomers even call Quaoar-sized objects out beyond Pluto by this outlandish name -- "Plutinos".

And that's what I've learned about it, for what it's worth.

--bkl

[Minstrel Boy]

32. thanks for the post, very informative n/t

[wuushew]

10. The Japanese knew about Planet X in 1965

Remember Godzilla and Rodan already went there to fight King Ghidora which also was know by the name Monster Zero.





We know it cannot be the Earth's twin planet Mondas because it was destroyed in the year 1999 when the first Doctor defeated the Cybermen's attempt to absorb the Earth's energy.

[Forkboy]

11. So

I'm not the only Godzilla geek around here :D

[Minstrel Boy]

13. Planet X is also rich in Aludium Phozdex,

popularly known as the shaving cream atom. That was the real reason for Duck Dodger's mission. Altruism my ass.

[Exultant Democracy]

12. What is this going to do to my celestial spheres theory?

This is all heresy, repent and turn away from your sinfull pride. His fivine word hath been given to you, and is only in his word which one may find truth.

[PartyPooper]

16. 40 years ago, I was taught the positioning of the planets.

Mark's.....................mercury
Very........................venus
Extravagant..............earth
Mother....................mars
Just.........................jupiter
Saved......................saturn (this one I'm not quite sure of!)
Us...........................uranus
Ninety......................neptune
Parakeets..................pluto

:dunce:

[flaminbats]

18. But what happens when Neptune and Pluto cross orbits?

:shrug: My vulture eats many jolly sponsers using pot necromantically..:scared:

[DemBones DemBones]

23. Simple, when Pluto's behind Uranus, watch

out for large dogs coming up behind you.


:evilgrin:

[SoCalDem]

17. It's only fair to call this one

George.. They are both waaaaaaaay out there and probably equally dim.:)

[opihimoimoi]

27. Planet GEORGE, I luv it.

Dim as a candle at 191827262534 miles.

[IndianaGreen]

28. Update: 'New planet' may have a moon

'New planet' may have a moon

The distant object that some astronomers think could be the Solar System's 10th planet may have a moon.

The new planetary candidate, which has been named Sedna, rotates more slowly on itself than expected, suggesting it may have a satellite orbiting it.

One of the scientists who found Sedna has been giving further details of its discovery at a news conference.

Observations show it measures less than 1,700km (about 1,000 miles) in diameter, which is smaller than Pluto.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3514594.stm

[Danieljay]

29. What a beautiful planet we live on...

wow...

[0rganism]

30. Doesn't this just bring us back up to 9?

IIRC, Pluto was relegated to "planetoid" a few years ago.

Edit: Apparently, this one is even smaller than Pluto, and 3 times as far away from the sun. It's not gonna make the cut.

[Gore1FL]

31. I though the found #10 a year or so ago

and named it Quaere or something like that.

[Junkdrawer]

33. YABI...

Yet Another Ball of Ice.

[electricmonk]

34. Name it Rupert

As long as there are no Grebulons on it.