How many planets does our solar system have, IYO?

[QUOTE="carrot-cake"]

[QUOTE="foxhound_fox"]
What about Eris? Its bigger than Pluto, has its own moon and orbits the Sun at a distance three times that of Pluto.

topsemag55

Alan Stern is involved with a satellite fly-by of Pluto, which will occur in 2015. He disagrees with the IAU's third criteria for calling a planet.

Here are the three criteria the IAU came up with in 2006 for an object to be called a planet:

1. The object must be in orbit around the Sun.

2. The object must be massive enough to be a sphere by its own gravitational force. More specifically, its own gravity should pull it into a shape of hydrostatic equilibrium.

3. It must have cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.

Alan Stern, principal investigator with NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto, has publicly derided the IAU resolution, stating that "the definition stinks, for technical reasons." Stern's contention is that by the terms of the new definition Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Neptune, all of which share their orbits with asteroids, would be excluded.

I wrote a term paper for an English course in college a couple years ago entail the new classifications of a planet and its relevance to Pluto. While I agree that Pluto is not a planet, the criteria established by the IAU is a little fishy; in particular the third rule. Instead of a need for a planet to be able to clear its orbital path, because it's obvious Jupiter and Uranus(because Pluto intersects it's path) would fail it, the third rule should encompass that a planet should be on a stable, level plane. Pluto's elliptical path is at a much different angle than the rest of the planets whom are at a much more level plane altogether.

Speaking of which, schools had to update their science textbooks to accomodate this revelation. Anyone remember the old mnemonic sentence for remembering the planets? My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas. What mnemonic sentence should we use now?UT_Wrestler

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nothing?:P:lol:

[QUOTE="UT_Wrestler"]Speaking of which, schools had to update their science textbooks to accomodate this revelation. Anyone remember the old mnemonic sentence for remembering the planets? My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas. What mnemonic sentence should we use now?topsemag55

My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nothing?:P:lol:

Noodles, nachos, nuts...

[QUOTE="Da_lil_PimP"]

[QUOTE="dreDREb13"]Hm? Two moons? What?dreDREb13

http://www.worldamazingrecords.com/2007/07/two-moons-on-27-august-greatest-event.html

It's actually Mars but it will appear to be the same size as our moon.

You do realise that I'm kidding right? :P

carrot-cake

Actually, I was on your side...saying nine planets.:P

I believe I read somewhere that it has the possibility of turning our planet inside out.Da_lil_PimP

That would be AWESOME! Can you imagine walking down the street and seeing spontaneous inside-out...ness?

Three.

The Sun and the Earth revolve around how crappy my life is at any given moment. /emo

Bladecutter56

Holy crap the pluto thing was 4 years ago?!

Holy crap the pluto thing was 4 years ago?!

NoobisMaxcimus

Can i steal your sig? (been a miami fan since before D wade haha)

[QUOTE="Da_lil_PimP"]I believe I read somewhere that it has the possibility of turning our planet inside out.airshocker

That would be AWESOME! Can you imagine walking down the street and seeing spontaneous inside-out...ness?

I'm sorry I can't, due to the fact because I even thought of it, my head would explode because of how awesome it is.Da_lil_PimP

Didn't they have a cartoon about a kid who did a flip in the swing-set and turned inside out?

[QUOTE="Da_lil_PimP"]I'm sorry I can't, due to the fact because I even thought of it, my head would explode because of how awesome it is.airshocker

Didn't they have a cartoon about a kid who did a flip in the swing-set and turned inside out?

Here you go

[QUOTE="NoobisMaxcimus"]

Holy crap the pluto thing was 4 years ago?!

Jph625

Can i steal your sig? (been a miami fan since before D wade haha)

Go for it :D

17....in my opinion

[QUOTE="carrot-cake"]

You do realise that I'm kidding right? :P

topsemag55

Actually, I was on your side...saying nine planets.:P

[QUOTE="topsemag55"]

[QUOTE="carrot-cake"]

You do realise that I'm kidding right? :P

carrot-cake

Actually, I was on your side...saying nine planets.:P

Nope, I listed the 3 criteria, then the last paragraph was for your side, where the dude running the Pluto mission disagreed.

One.

I have not seen any of these other planets first hand. How can I really be sure that they exist?

Dylan_11

Haha, this. :oops:

:P

:P

testfactor888

lol:D

One.

I have not seen any of these other planets first hand. How can I really be sure that they exist?

Dylan_11

Good one.:lol:

8. **** Pluto.

8.

But isn't there also another supposed planet beyond Pluto that would technically be our 9th?

8... Pluto can't honestly be considered a planet, because they would have to then include other objects that or as large or larger they have found within or around the solar system.sSubZerOo

The IAU isn't judging by size, they have 3 criteria, and the third one is what they came up with to knock Pluto out...I posted the criteria earlier in the thread.

One.

I have not seen any of these other planets first hand. How can I really be sure that they exist?

Pluto will always be the 9th planet in our solar system. I do'nt care if they classify the rest of the similarly sized bodies out there as planets. A dwarf planet is still a planet in my book.JustPlainLucas

My thoughts exactly!

Pluto will always be the 9th planet in our solar system. I do'nt care if they classify the rest of the similarly sized bodies out there as planets. A dwarf planet is still a planet in my book.JustPlainLucas

Dwarfs are people too

I mean planets

I mean gahh Pluto is a planet :(

Let's compromise with the scientific community. 8.5 :)

[QUOTE="JustPlainLucas"]Pluto will always be the 9th planet in our solar system. I do'nt care if they classify the rest of the similarly sized bodies out there as planets. A dwarf planet is still a planet in my book.Shadow4020

My thoughts exactly!

"We've noticed you're a dwarf, therefore we're taking away your right to be known as a planet"

Little people of the world watch out – planets are only the start. After they ban Charlie and the chocolate factory they'll be after you.

8

Pluto will always be the 9th planet in our solar system. I do'nt care if they classify the rest of the similarly sized bodies out there as planets. JustPlainLucas

But if dwarf planets count as planets, since there's one closer to the sun than Pluto is, that would make Pluto the 10th planet...

Pluto will always be the 9th planet in our solar system. I do'nt care if they classify the rest of the similarly sized bodies out there as planets. A dwarf planet is still a planet in my book.JustPlainLucas

If you're going to consider Pluto a planet you may as well throw it's 'moon' Charon in there was well. It's almost as big as Pluto and both bodies orbit a central point of gravity (barycenter) between them. Charon does not orbit Pluto.