Pluto demoted

[Analoguesat]

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.

BBC News - full report:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5282440.stm

 

[JTA]

it's a bloody shame - I've already taught my daughter that the solar system consists of 12 planets : mercury, venus, earth, mars, jupiter, saturn, uranus, neptune, pluto, ceres, Xena and Gabrielle :-)

 

[cfphoenix]

It is down to 8 now O-Ha - Maybe next year it will go down to 7

 

[spiney]

..... and, after we've blown up the earth, subtract another one .....

 

[JTA]

actually, I don't think Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus & Neptune are planets either, they're too gassy.
Let's face it : we live in a solar system with 1 sun, 4 planets, 4 sub-suns, 3 sub-planets, a lot of debris and an infinite number of idiots.

 

[Grahkov]

PLANET RIGHTS FOR PLUTO !....P.R.F.P Join now !

 

[spiney]

Call a spade a spade, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, , and so on .....

Personally, I think this is all to do with house prices, and council tax banding.

 

[Channel Hopper]

If rent is cheaper on Pluto as a result, then I'm up for it.

 

[spiney]

Yes, Ch Hopper, but think of the heating bills!