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Posted Thursday, June 12, 2008 12:14 PM

Pluto Finally Gets Some Respect. Sort Of.

By Sharon Begley
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Posted By: GustoMaybe (June 21, 2008 at 9:16 AM)

"Called “trans-Neptunian objects,” they were bound to include at least one larger than Pluto." That's funny. I don't recall seeing you confident prediction in any astronomical journal, or even any newspaper.


Posted By: GustoMaybe (June 21, 2008 at 9:13 AM)

Pluto used to be my favorite. Until I found out about Charon. And then those other little ones. Errrrrrrrkh! (Is that a word?)


Posted By: duckpile (June 13, 2008 at 4:42 PM)

Incidentally, I had a Mr. Kuiper as a principal in my senior year of High School.


Posted By: duckpile (June 13, 2008 at 4:36 PM)

Will reclassifying Pluto as something other than a planet do anything to change the price of corn or gasoline?


Posted By: C79th14 (June 13, 2008 at 4:36 PM)

hahah I just read,

" Posted By: jlin (June 13, 2008 at 2:18 PM)

Is it just me or are the same people who named Pokemon in charge of the names for these space objects, Plutoid and Kuiper??"  

It's the big yellow Pokemon name your baby book... these are my sons  Plutoid and Kuiper!   LOL


Posted By: C79th14 (June 13, 2008 at 4:21 PM)

Being a Scorpio I have special interest in the fate of Pluto.   If one who has been demoted is considered to have been Plutoed, therefore one who has been Plutoed would be considered a Plutoid - wouldn't that be the same as saying, "if you are a Plutoid you are a loser"?  I'm not sure calling anything a Plutoid is a positive thing...   so where does that leave being a Scorpio?  I think I'll just head back to Mars and call it a day.


Posted By: wildbill69 (June 13, 2008 at 4:09 PM)

Still Nine!!


Posted By: jlin (June 13, 2008 at 2:18 PM)

Is it just me or are the same people who named Pokemon in charge of the names for these space objects, Plutoid and Kuiper??


Posted By: willld (June 13, 2008 at 2:06 PM)

" It is just too wimpy to clear out its orbital neighborhood."

Or the truth being that its orbital neighborhood is millions of times larger then other planets due to its disatnce from the Sun? Give another hundred million years and check the posts again ;)  


Posted By: GruntUltra (June 13, 2008 at 2:03 PM)

Let's call Pluto a 'Budget Planet', like a Celeron processor or a Hyundai Accent.


Posted By: rentcontrol (June 13, 2008 at 1:56 PM)

What is the difference between Goofy and Pluto?

Why does Goofy talk and wear clothes, while Pluto is just Mickey's pet? I mean, they're both dogs.


Posted By: jimmysnyder (June 13, 2008 at 1:46 PM)

Earth is a planet?


Posted By: argates (June 13, 2008 at 1:42 PM)

Mother served us NACHOS!


Posted By: GustoMaybe (June 13, 2008 at 1:31 PM)

My very eager mother just served us NOODLES!!!!


Posted By: R4stek (June 13, 2008 at 1:27 PM)

Mother doesn't have to serve nine anythings... Marys violet eyes made John stay up nights (period)


Posted By: keriamon (June 13, 2008 at 1:19 PM)

Okay, the question that begs to be asked:

My very eager mother just served us nine...

What?  There are no pickles (or pizzas) on the end of the sentence anymore!  Anyone yet revised this pneumonic device to correct for cancelling Pluto?  School children everyone are counting on it!  


Posted By: Common-tater (June 13, 2008 at 7:49 AM)

I don't see how reclassifying Pluto as the prototypical 'round space debris generally beyond Neptune' is going to 'placate' anyone... it's more a consideration than a token of respect. First it was a 'planet' found by chance in a 'systematic' search for a miscalculated Planet X... now it's kind of lumped in with large asteroids, just... 'further out there and round'.  It's interesting to find out other 'small solar system bodies' with satellites ('moons') now. Reminds me of those 'large solar system bodies'... you know... 'planets'. But we'll get over it. Not a planet, nope... you just don't clean up after yourself.  Sorry Pluto, you're just a plutoid, (ok, perhaps a plutino, too)... well, maybe the first 'binary plutoid' since Charon kinda shares orbit with you... We won't be talking about you at the planets meetings anymore. Just be glad you're not a Kuipod!


Posted By: Scorpio Seven (June 13, 2008 at 2:20 AM)

We're gonna get "hit" in 2012?  i hope it doesn't happen on my bowling night.....


Posted By: Skulldugger7 (June 12, 2008 at 2:25 PM)

I really doubt if anyone is 'furious' over Pluto's demotion.  If someone really is furious, then I respectfully suggest that they look around themselve for a jolt of subjective reality.  

Anyway, it won't matter when the big one hits in 2012.


Posted By: pkcyll (June 12, 2008 at 2:05 PM)

Those of us who have studied the planets and stars for years have always known that Pluto was an "accidental" planet. It was found by luck, not because it gravitationally distorted Neptune's orbit.

Get over it people. Pluto is a large comet, not a planet, with a stable orbit, and too far from the Sun to develop a tail.


Posted By: GustoMaybe (June 12, 2008 at 2:03 PM)

Wait, I thought Charon (Pluto's former moon) also classified as a dwarf planet?

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