posted
I think the public at large isn't even aware there's a debate. My son, who's in 1st grade now, learned about the "Nine Planets" last year in kindergarten, which was after this mess started. We knew several years ago that we no longer have exactly nine, but we didn't know whether that number would increase or decrease.
As for the Solar System seeming smaller if we go to eight, I don't think so. There's a lot more to learn about now than there ever was before.
posted
No doubt the Daily Mail will cause a big stink, debating what effect the loss will have on house prices, and likely blaming either illegal immigrants, asylum seekers, Cherie Blair, or Europe. "They come over here, downgrading our planets' statuses. . ."
WizArtist II
"How can you have a yellow alert in Spacedock? "
Member # 1425
posted
quote:Originally posted by Lee:
I wonder. . . what will be the implications for society (as it were) if we go back to 8 planets? I mean, would the switch be as accepted as the switch from eight to nine a century ago? Would the Solar System seem smaller?
Like....could you go back to your 7th grade science teacher and triumphantly exclaim "SEE! I WAS right after all!....EIGHT!"
-------------------- There are 10 types of people in the world...those that understand Binary and those that don't.
Registered: Nov 2004
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posted
They could call our rack a jar and it wouldn't matter in the grand scheme of the motions of our 'great' soceity. So removing Pluto as a planet, most likely, won't mean a thing to the general populace.
If it had a zip code then the mail could get screwed up for a century or two till they got it back together.
-------------------- "You are a terrible human, Ritten." Magnus "Urgh, you are a sick sick person..." Austin Powers A leek too, pretty much a negi.....
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1.) Gas balls with fusion. 2.) Gas balls without fusion. 3.) Rocks.
Addendum upon posting: Were someone to actually propose such a minimalistic rubric, 4.) or perhaps 3a.) Rocks with atmospheres, would probably be useful. (Though where does one draw the line between it and 2?)
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-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
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WizArtist II
"How can you have a yellow alert in Spacedock? "
Member # 1425
posted
IF atmosphere is used as a basis, what would you do with a situation like Endor in Star Wars? A habitable moon orbiting a gas giant? Planet and Mini-Planet?
-------------------- There are 10 types of people in the world...those that understand Binary and those that don't.
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Shik
Starship database: completed; History of Starfleet: done; website: probably never
Member # 343
posted
"An Asterix? Of what use would a short, blonde Gaul with a big moustache be?"
He could hurl Cacofonix to Pluto. I know Chief Vitalstatistix would approve it. Unhygenix, too.
Again, Siegfried summarizes nicely:
In other space news, Pluto is likely to remain a planet. The Big Get-Together of Astronomy Dudes and Dudettes is going to create a new category for Pluto, "Xena", and (possibly) Ceres. In essence, the solar system set up a kid's table and told Pluto to "go mind the kids". No word yet if Pluto is going spit on the next Thanksgiving turkey in retaliation.
-------------------- "The French have a saying: 'mise en place'—keep everything in its fucking place!"
Registered: Jun 2000
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