Pluto gets a new stupid name

[Raph's Girl]

Pluto, demoted from planet status in 2006, got a consolation prize on Wednesday -- it and other dwarf planets like it will be called plutoids.

The International Astronomical Union said in a statement that its executive committee meeting in Oslo, Norway, decided on the term.

Plutoids will be defined as celestial bodies in orbit around the Sun farther away than Neptune. They must have near-spherical shape, and must not have swept up other, smaller objects in their orbits, said the organization, which names newly discovered planets and other celestial bodies.

The two known and named plutoids are Pluto and Eris, but astronomers expect to find more.

Another dwarf planet, Ceres, does not merit the plutoid designation because it is in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080612/...luto_name_dc_1

and must not have swept up other, smaller objects in their orbits

What the Frak?! That definition of a plutoid makes no fraking sense at all!!!! Pluto can't be a Plutoid with that definition!!! IT'S GOT THREE MOONS YOU FRAKING MORONS!!!!

[gobo]

Originally Posted by Raph's Girl

Pluto can't be a Plutoid with that definition!!! IT'S GOT THREE MOONS YOU FRAKING MORONS!!!!

I thought it only had one, but that's a deal-breaker right there. Hopefully, that's just a case of reporters hearing things wrong.

[Type 97 Chi-ha]

http://techfox.comicgenesis.com/d/20061023.html

I thought this was quite relevant.

[Raph's Girl]

Originally Posted by gobo

I thought it only had one, but that's a deal-breaker right there. Hopefully, that's just a case of reporters hearing things wrong.

Nope.. it's got 3: Charon, Nix, and Hydra.

Type 97:
That comic is hilarious

Ooh.. that article WAS wrong. Whoever wrote that article needs to be fired...NOW.

This is from the official website of the IAU.

http://www.iau.org/public_press/news/release/iau0804/

Plutoids are celestial bodies in orbit around the Sun at a distance greater than that of Neptune that have sufficient mass for their self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that they assume a hydrostatic equilibrium (near-spherical) shape, and that have not cleared the neighbourhood around their orbit. Satellites of plutoids are not plutoids themselves, even if they are massive enough that their shape is dictated by self-gravity.

HAH! See.. it says they can have moons!

[coffeelover23]

plutoid is a really stupid name. That's just rediculous.

[VaughnMichael]

I bet Disney made them change it hahahaha

[gobo]

I wouldn't put it past them...

[VaughnMichael]

Originally Posted by gobo

I wouldn't put it past them...

Sadly me either

[Drtooth]

Originally Posted by Putrescent

I bet Disney made them change it hahahaha

Actually, I could see Disney just buying the planet and copyrighting it too.

The rediculous debate of Pluto being a planet once again rears its ugly head. How much of our tax dollars are going towards this? I love science and all, but that's rediculous.

[Storm Wolf]

You know...this is ridiculous! How can you call it Pluto for so many years, then...

"O-well we just got bored with that name...it's Plutoid now! HAHA suckers get used to THAT one now!"



This is like the time when The American Kennel Club just decided to change a Jack Russell Terrier into a Parsons Russell Terrier. I don't know ANYone who refers to it as a Parsons Russell....do you?

WHY?

Because it's been one name for so long that no one gives a flying **** who changed it or why.

Change it's classification 29 million times if you want, but for the sake of sanity...let it keep it's name!

[Raph's Girl]

Originally Posted by Storm Wolf

This is like the time when The American Kennel Club just decided to change a Jack Russell Terrier into a Parsons Russell Terrier. I don't know ANYone who refers to it as a Parsons Russell....do you?

Actually Jack Russell Terrier's and Parson Russell Terriers are 2 different breeds of dog. They come from the Fox Terrier stock that Parson Jack Russell helped to develop but they're really 2 different breeds now. It was the UK Kennel Club who decided on the name change in 1990 while the American Club didn't do this till April 2003. So blame the Brits, not the Americans.

The main differences between the breeds is the height. Parson Russell's are a couple inches taller.

It's like all the Fox Hound veriaties (English, American, Black & Tan, Herrier, Beagle Herrier, 13 inch Beagle, 15/16 Inch Beagle, and Basset).

But back to the subject at hand. It's still Pluto to me, it'll always be Pluto to me and Im sticking with the Arizona Astronamy Club who basically told the IAU to frak off. In Arizona, Pluto is still a planet.

[gobo]

Why's it seem like people think Pluto is being renamed? The article only says they're making up some new, ridiculous classification for it (where Pluto is apparently 'the reason for the season').

[iris]

Uh, yeah, Pluto is still Pluto. The word "plutoid," in this case, means "like Pluto."

The word probably originated in describing Eris, not Pluto, because we can't say much about Eris other than, 'hah, well it's kind of like Pluto, but bigger.'

It makes at least as much sense as the word asteroid, which means "star-like body" and is an odd thing to call a rock that's nothing like a star. Asteroids are supposed to be called minor planets or planetoids, but who calls them that?

Anyway, looks like Eris is appropriately named; she continues to sow discord. But I still wish they'd have gone with calling her Xena.

[Storm Wolf]

Originally Posted by Raph's Girl

Actually Jack Russell Terrier's and Parson Russell Terriers are 2 different breeds of dog. They come from the Fox Terrier stock that Parson Jack Russell helped to develop but they're really 2 different breeds now. It was the UK Kennel Club who decided on the name change in 1990 while the American Club didn't do this till April 2003. So blame the Brits, not the Americans.

The main differences between the breeds is the height. Parson Russell's are a couple inches taller.

Umm...I'm pretty sure they are the same breed. the AKC only has a Parsons Russell Terrier listed.

They do not list the Jack Russell. They are the same breed...just two different names.

"The Parson Russell Terrier was formerly known
as the Jack Russell Terrier. In 2003, the name
was officially changed to Parson Russell Terrier
to achieve continuity with the Kennel Club (UK)
name, and to distinguish the Parson Russell from
the short legged terriers frequently called
"Jacks Russell".

Kinda like Caribou are sometimes referred to as Reindeer. Even if you call them reindeer....they are still Caribou.