http://www.physorg.com/news74917943.html
I have absolutely no problem with inclusion of other planets into the Solar club.
I have always been a stront proponant of the following Criteria: "If it"s round and orbits the Sun...it"s a planet." If the body has any inkling of an atmosphere...even better!
Any body has enough mass and confidence in itself to create a sphere and orbits a central star is good enough for me. WHat I don"t understand is why include Pluto"s Satellite Charon?
A spirited discussion of this matter over the past few weeks can be found at the Chicago Astronomer Fourum:
http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?board=pluto
Respectfully,
Chicago Astronomer Joe
Administrator
http://astronomer.proboards23.com
QUOTE
If it's round and orbits the Sun...it's a planet.
By that logic, you'd lable every comet a planet. 
Comets aren't round, and they do not have a gravity field. Therefore, comets would not be considered a planet. DEDEDE
Max and Bobby...
Yes, Comets on the whole are irregular shaped bodies, more debris leftovers than a world on it's own merit. The logic does not apply.
Comets are much too small to be planets as was mentioned prior. On the gravity aspect, I believe all objects have some gravity in relation to their size...even atoms. But comets cannot form into a sphere and hang on to an atmosphere, they are just too small and do not contain enough mass to do so. But interesting that comets have been found to contain organic compounds and even water!
I maintain that if Pluto is kicked out, so must Mercury. It has no atmosphere, really small and plenty of debris around it's orbital path, (SOHO and others). And really, all the planets have debris orbiting with them, even if the majority have been swept up or pushed out. The definition is just not tight enough, and must be revisited.
Respectfully,
Chicago Astronomer Joe
Administrator
http://astronomer.proboards23.com
Yes, Comets on the whole are irregular shaped bodies, more debris leftovers than a world on it's own merit. The logic does not apply.
Comets are much too small to be planets as was mentioned prior. On the gravity aspect, I believe all objects have some gravity in relation to their size...even atoms. But comets cannot form into a sphere and hang on to an atmosphere, they are just too small and do not contain enough mass to do so. But interesting that comets have been found to contain organic compounds and even water!
I maintain that if Pluto is kicked out, so must Mercury. It has no atmosphere, really small and plenty of debris around it's orbital path, (SOHO and others). And really, all the planets have debris orbiting with them, even if the majority have been swept up or pushed out. The definition is just not tight enough, and must be revisited.
Respectfully,
Chicago Astronomer Joe
Administrator
http://astronomer.proboards23.com
wtffff this is a shitty website
wtffff this is a shitty website