Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: artistic on 26/08/2006 16:22:06
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Pluto loses status as a planet
Astronomers have voted to strip Pluto of its status as a planet.
About 2,500 scientists meeting in Prague have adopted historic new guidelines that see the small, distant world demoted to a secondary category.
The researchers said Pluto failed to dominate its orbit around the Sun in the same way as the other planets.
The International Astronomical Union's (IAU) decision means textbooks will now have to describe a Solar System with just eight major planetary bodies.
Pluto, which was discovered in 1930 by the American Clyde Tombaugh, will be referred to as a "dwarf planet".
There is a recognition that the demotion is likely to upset the public, who have become accustomed to a particular view of the Solar System.
More at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/5282440.stm
Don't make me angry, I have advanced "Green Technology".
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More on this subject can be found here
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5159 and also
here
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=957&whichpage=8
Michael