Things You May or May Not Find Interesting

Friday, August 25, 2006

Pluto officially no longer a planet

Yes, the name says it all! The 26th General Assembly for the International Astronomical Union has determined it's now a dwarf planet.

Here is the official way of determining what is what:

  1. A “planet” is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.
  2. A “dwarf planet” is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape2 , (c) has not cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit, and (d) is not a satellite.
  3. All other objects except satellites orbiting the Sun shall be referred to collectively as “Small Solar-System Bodies”.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home