[meteorite-list] WHAT IS A PLANET?

From: Martin Altmann <Altmann_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon Aug 1 06:11:46 2005
Message-ID: <001401c59682$ad632d00$4c7e9a54_at_9y6y40j>

Hi Al&All,

> The naming of a planet is left to the astronomical community and they
> tend to name after the Greek gods. Suggesting and speculating names on
> this list is simply a waste of time although fun.

Not at all, it helps to understand, how garish the decision was to name that
object after a TV-Show: "Xena".
Guess the next KBOs will be called: Hulk, Buck, Blob, (Larry, Moe and
Curly), Fuzzy & Lassie.

>(what happened
> to the Pluto express??)

Cancelled. First you must back to the Moon, before the Chinese are there....
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/database/MasterCatalog?sc=PLUTOKE

For those, who want to learn about the life and works of Clyde Tombaugh:
http://www.klx.com/clyde/

Martin


----- Original Message -----
From: "AL Mitterling" <almitt_at_kconline.com>
To: "Sterling K. Webb" <kelly_at_bhil.com>
Cc: "Meteorite List" <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Monday, August 01, 2005 1:32 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] WHAT IS A PLANET?


> Hi Sterling, Martin and all,
>
> Although some might considered off topic (what is a planet) it is on
> topic as we don't know where some of the unique meteorites in our
> collections come from or any new type that may be discovered. It also
> fits the description in the Meteoritical Society's front page.
>
> I had the privilege of talking to Clyde Tombaugh (discover of Pluto) at
> an astronomical league national convention. He joined us one of the
> clear observing nights. Although I did a bit of observing it seem more
> important to me to talk to Clyde. Many of the other amateurs seem more
> enthusiastic about observing rather than tapping the knowledge from Clyde.
>
> I had a nice half an hour talk with him. One of the questions that have
> come up in this thread is how we could have missed such an object. Clyde
> mentioned searching from -50 degrees south to +50 degrees north, however
> there were spots missing from this search due the W.W.II. The search had
> to be discontinued for more important reasons. Some areas were missing
> down to 20 degree north. No doubt objects could have been in the missed
> areas but Clyde seem to think we had covered our bases pretty good. Not
> to say it wouldn't be impossible for another discovery. Also those doing
> the work on the blink comparitors, could have always missed a spot when
> doing the search for other objects. Clyde mentioned problems with Pluto,
> size, makeup and other interesting items. So they were more than aware.
>
> The discovery of Pluto created a big stir back then and there was a big
> media frenzy. The Lowell staff kept things quiet as long as they could
> because they were needing to prepare. Also they wanted to pick out a
> name before others in the astronomical community had a chance to ruin
> this for them. Back then (and probably still today) others were eager to
> try to steal the spot light of such an important event and take over.
> Try to take away from those who had done the work and much work had been
> done.
>
> Those wanting to demote Pluto to a lesser object would probably be cast
> out of society by those folks. I personally don't like changing such
> significant historical discoveries, rewriting history. Let Pluto stay
> even if it is a lesser object. I know that Clyde later on expressed this
> and was somewhat hurt by others trying to demote the planet while he was
> still living.
>
> I agree until we explore further out in our solar system (and we need
> to) examine what lies out in the great beyond, we will continue to
> debate issues that can only be answered by exploration. (what happened
> to the Pluto express??) I agree with Francis Graham it would be nice to
> find a meteorite from out in those regions even though the probability
> is not good. One thing for sure is until we know more about the make up
> of those objects, it will be hard to know one way or the other if we do
> indeed have one.
>
> The naming of a planet is left to the astronomical community and they
> tend to name after the Greek gods. Suggesting and speculating names on
> this list is simply a waste of time although fun.
>
> --AL Mitterling
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Received on Mon 01 Aug 2005 06:20:42 AM PDT