Tenth planet may really be the twelfth planet
Published on 16 Aug 2006 at 8:06 am.
1 Comment.
Filed under Tenth Planet.
The IAU is proposing the following definition of a planet, which would make our beloved tenth planet, really the 12th planet!
A planet is a celestial body that (a) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (b) is in orbit around a star, and is neither a star nor a satellite of a planet.
Under this definition, Pluto would remain the 9th planet, but its moon, Charon, would be reclassified as the 10th planet. In addition, Ceres, an asteroid would also be reclassified as a planet, making it the 11th planet. Finally, to confuse matters further, all of these would also be called plutons to distinquish them from the eight “classic” planets.
If this definition is accepted, and it may not be, we could end up with 53 planets immediately, and possibly hundreds as more are discovered in the outer reaches of the solar system.
IAU members will vote on this definition on August 24th, 2006. Confusing times for our 2003 UB313 planet. Is it a planet? Is it the tenth planet? Is it the twelfth planet? Is it also a pluton? And what name will it be given? We won’t have to wait long for the answers.
kyle(gurl name) im a girl on 10 Dec 2007 at 3:22 pm: 1
think that its so kool that we have found another planet ts so kool and me and my friends want to ask u if u think that there might be more planets or asteriods etc that we mighht found but y wasnt it on the news when u guys found the 10th or 11th planet???????