NationStates Jolt Archive

Pluto was officially numbered in order to celebrate it's new status as a dwarf planet (http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20060911/sc_space/plutoisnowjustanumber134340). Apparently, the IAU was looking for something to do at their convention and one of the ideas was to rename everything in the universe.

Pluto has been given a new name to reflect its new status as a dwarf planet.

On Sept. 7, the former 9th planet was assigned the asteroid number 134340 by the Minor Planet Center (MPC), the official organization responsible for collecting data about asteroids and comets in our solar system.

Fortunately, for us non-astronomers, the companion satellites of the asteroid formerly known as Pluto, will be assigned numbers derived from 134340's designation. Charon, Nix and Hydra are considered part of the same system and will not be assigned separate asteroid numbers, said MPC director emeritus Brian Marsden. Instead, they will be called 134340 I, II and III, respectively.

What a relief that's all settled. I was worried about the difference between asteroids, dwarf planets, and fully sized planets for a while there. I'm glad the IAU could simplify things.

Yucky. :(

Didn't we have several threads about that a few weeks ago already?

Bah. I didn't care if they added new planets, but couldn't they just leave Pluto alone?

This reminds me of one of the biggest dissapointments in my childhood.


I once visited Greenwich observatory with my family, and at the end of a very interesting tour, we walked into the main observatory and came across a giant telescope, pointed to the stars. It was especially for children, and a sign read:

“Look through the eyepiece and you’ll see a famous planet”

I remeber excitedly waiting in line, imagining the vista of stars and planets I was just about to observe. Instead, they had put a piece of paper with a picture of Disney’s Pluto over the end of the eyepiece.

Even as a wee kid, I was not amused. I wanted to see space. :(

Didn't we have several threads about that a few weeks ago already?

But I'm sure none of them has an original post that's as well written as mine.
/gloat

This is hilarious:

WHEREAS, Recent astronomical discoveries, including Pluto's oblong orbit and the sighting of a slightly larger Kuiper Belt object, have led astronomers to question the planetary status of Pluto; and

WHEREAS, The mean-spirited International Astronomical Union decided on August 24, 2006, to disrespect Pluto by stripping Pluto of its planetary status and reclassifying it as a lowly dwarf planet; and

WHEREAS, Pluto was discovered in 1930 by an American, Clyde Tombaugh, at the Lowell Observatory in Arizona, and this discovery resulted in millions of Californians being taught that Pluto was the ninth planet in the solar system; and

WHEREAS, Pluto, named after the Roman God of the underworld and affectionately sharing the name of California's most famous animated dog, has a special connection to California history and culture; and

WHEREAS, Downgrading Pluto's status will cause psychological harm to some Californians who question their place in the universe and worry about the instability of universal constants; and

WHEREAS, The deletion of Pluto as a planet renders millions of text books, museum displays, and children's refrigerator art projects obsolete, and represents a substantial unfunded mandate that must be paid by dwindling Proposition 98 education funds, thereby harming California's children and widening its budget deficits; and

WHEREAS, The deletion of Pluto as a planet is a hasty, ill-considered scientific heresy similar to questioning the Copernican theory, drawing maps of a round world, and proving the existence of the time and space continuum; and

WHEREAS, The downgrading of Pluto reduces the number of planets available for legislative leaders to hide redistricting legislation and other inconvenient political reform measures; and

WHEREAS, The California Legislature, in the closing days of the 2005-06 session, has been considering few matters important to the future of California, and the status of Pluto takes precedence and is worthy of this body's immediate attention; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Assembly hereby condemns the International Astronomical Union's decision to strip Pluto of its planetary status for its tremendous impact on the people of California and the state's long term fiscal health; and be it further

Resolved, That the Assembly Clerk shall send a copy of the resolution to the International Astronomical Union and to any Californian who, believing that his or her legislator is addressing the problems that threaten the future of the Golden State, requests a copy of the resolution.

This is hilarious:

Go California.

This reminds me of one of the biggest dissapointments in my childhood.

I once visited Greenwich observatory with my family, and at the end of a very interesting tour, we walked into the main observatory and came across a giant telescope, pointed to the stars. It was especially for children, and a sign read:

“Look through the eyepiece and you’ll see a famous planet”

I remeber excitedly waiting in line, imagining the vista of stars and planets I was just about to observe. Instead, they had put a piece of paper with a picture of Disney’s Pluto over the end of the eyepiece.

Even as a wee kid, I was not amused. I wanted to see space. :(
Dude, I could sooo see me getting angry over that as a kid! I'd be pissed off like no other...

This is hilarious:
Is that true? For if it were, that is wasted government time right there :headbang:

Dude, I could sooo see me getting angry over that as a kid! I’d be pissed off like no other...
Exactly. It’s a bloody observatory! The least they could do would be to let you look at some stars.

Exactly. It’s a bloody observatory! The least they could do would be to let you look at some stars.
I loved my childhood visits to the local (well, next town) planetarium. Mmmh... fond memories!

That's a much simpler name. After all, it's just a 1 and a 0 with 34 twice in the middle.

What could possibly be confusing or a waste of time about that?

My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming the dwarf Planet 134340.

Catchy.

That's a much simpler name. After all, it's just a 1 and a 0 with 34 twice in the middle.

What could possibly be confusing or a waste of time about that?

My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming the dwarf Planet 134340.

Catchy.

IEAEAO sounds stupid, though. Like someone dropped something heavy on their feet. PLUTO sounds much better...

What actually happened at the IAU meetings is kind of like what happens in Congress. One faction, that was being all pissy because things weren't quite the way they wanted them to be, got a majority and enforced its agenda on the body as a whole for reasons that basically amount to "so there!" without reguard for how anyone outside the group in question would feel simply because they could. My guess is the anti-Pluto lobby is currently gloating.

I don't get any respect around here! If you guys don't quit laughing at me, I'll pack my bags and move back to the Kuiper Belt!

I love you Pluto.

They want to call it 134340? F*ck them, Pluto for life. I mean even the planet they removed in 18??, (I don't remember it) they kept it's name.

It's all because the stupid Xena guy was bitching about how his cool new planet wasn't going to be added.


Go California.

Ha you should see some websites.
Urban Dead Wiki (http://wiki.urbandead.com/index.php/UDWiki:Moderation/Policy_Discussion/Recognition_of_Pluto_as_a_Planet)
(The pro 134340 people are winning, join up and save Pluto!)

Why do the bullies always pick on the small guys. I bet the Plutonians are pissed.......I sense War Of The Worlds :( :p

They want to call it 134340? F*ck them, Pluto for life.

Foshizle.